Breeding & Racing Magazine

Proud Spell Wins US Gr1 Alabama Stakes

In the US, Brereton Jones's home-bred filly Proud Spell (Proud Citizen-Pacific Spell, by Langfuhr) notched her 2nd Gr1 triumph of the year with victory by a head in the US$600,000 Gr1 Alabama Stakes (10 furlongs) for 3YO fillies at Saratoga in New York. Proud Spell (ridden by Gabriel Saez for trainer Larry Jones) defeated Godolphin's Gr1-winning stable-mates, favourite Music Note (A.P.Indy-Note Musicale, by Sadler's Wells) & front-running Little Belle (A.P.Indy-Dubai Belle, by Mr Prospector). At her previous start Kentucky-bred Proud Spell also won last month's US Gr2 Delaware Oaks (8.5 furlongs) at Delaware Park; & earlier this season she also won May's Gr1 Kentucky Oaks (9 furlongs) at Churchill Downs & then finished 3rd in June's Gr1 Mother Goose Stakes (9 furlongs) for 3YO fillies at Belmont Park. Overall Proud Spell now has 7 wins (also including the 2007 Gr2 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park & this season's Gr2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March) & 4 placings (also including runner-up in both the 2007 Gr1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies over 8.5 furlongs at Monmouth Park & February's Gr2 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, plus 3rd in April's Gr1 Ashland Stakes over 8.5 furlongs on the all-weather track at Keeneland) from 11 starts for US$1,975,110 earnings.