2008 Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
May 13 - Proud Spell
She's a wonderful filly that won the Kentucky Oaks for her owner the former governor of Kentucky, Bereton Jones. She is by his farm's stallion Proud Spell.
But let's totally highjack today's story.
A few years ago, I had a friend from high school in town that I hadn't seen in maybe 40 years. Linda Ziemba grew up in Cottage Grove, Tennessee but now she lives in New Jersey. She has a company with an interesting product that prevents drones from flying into specific air space such as stadiums etc. She was in Kentucky on business. We met at a restaurant in Midway, Kentucky, a cute little place with about 10 tables. At one of the tables was Governor Jones and his family. We said hello. He had given a quote that was used on the back of the book, A Brush With Greatness as well as Proud Spell being in the book.
His son, Bret, was there with his very pregnant wife and a couple of kids. They were on their way for a "scheduled delivery" to the hospital after lunch so there was a certain excitement in the entire group. All this info was provided by the governor when he came to our table to say hello and I was introducing the governor to my high school friend.
The Jones left. When it was time to pay for lunch, I was informed that Governor Jones had bought our lunch. Again, nice touch! I'm sure Linda had to be tad impressed, right?
Then, the waitress told us that the governor bought everybody's lunch that day to make up for all the noise and commotion caused by his rowdy grandkids. I really hadn't noticed them making a raucous. So, I think painting Proud Spell got us a free lunch and special recognition, instead it was just another example of how kind and considerate Governor Jones was and we just had the good fortune of being in the right place at the right time.
Proud Spell was the standout three year old filly of 2008, a hardy bay who racked up classic wins and brought home an Eclipse Award. She was foaled in 2005, a daughter of the stallion Proud Citizen out of the mare Pacific Spell. She was bred and owned by former Kentucky governor Brereton C. Jones of Airdrie Stud, and she was trained by Larry Jones, the cowboy hat wearing horseman who became one of the most popular figures in the sport. With young rider Gabriel Saez in the saddle, the filly went from promise to greatness in a single season.
Proud Spell opened her three year old year by winning the Fair Grounds Oaks in New Orleans, showing the long sweeping stride that would carry her through the year. She then headed to Churchill Downs for the 2008 Kentucky Oaks, where she came running through the stretch to win the most important race in the country for three year old fillies. The day was a bittersweet one for the Larry Jones barn, since his other star, the gallant Eight Belles, would tragically break down the next afternoon in the Kentucky Derby. Proud Spell carried her trainer through that heartbreaking moment.
She kept on rolling through the summer of 2008. Proud Spell captured the Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park, then traveled to Saratoga and turned in the signature performance of her career. In the historic Alabama Stakes, she battled head and head with the talented Music Note down the stretch and dug in to win by a nose. It was a thrilling finish that confirmed her as the best filly of her age and made it clear she belonged with the very top of her crop, fillies and colts alike.
For her brilliant year, Proud Spell was crowned the 2008 Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. She finished her career with earnings of more than $2 million and a record full of grit and class. After retirement, she returned to Airdrie Stud as a broodmare for Brereton C. Jones. Proud Spell is remembered as a true blue collar champion, a homebred filly who gave her trainer some of his proudest days during one of racing's most emotional seasons.
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