A Heavenly Prize

 

A Heavenly Prize

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Golden Tempo winning the 2026 Kentucky Derby
(The Courier-Journal)

In the aftermath of Golden Tempo’s astonishing victory in the 152^nd running of the Kentucky Derby, there have been well deserved accolades for his history making trainer Cherie DeVaux, jockey Jose Ortiz and the ownership partnership of Phipps and St. Elias Stables. The Derby winner, a son of preeminent stallion Curlin, has a female pedigree steeped in the Phipps family bloodlines. This is a stable that has bred and raced such equine legends as Bold Ruler, Buckpasser, Personal Ensign and Easy Goer. As a long time follower of the Phipps Stable racehorses, I would like this piece to focus on a personal favorite, Heavenly Prize, who happens to be a distant relative of Golden Tempo.

Golden Tempo’s third dam, Dancinginmydreams, was a full sister to Heavenly Prize. Starting her racing career as a two-year-old in 2000, she won her first start at Saratoga Racetrack and then finished second, just missing, in the Matron Stakes at Belmont Park. However, her racing career came to an abrupt halt when she broke down in her third start in the Frizette Stakes. (Fortunately, she was saved and retired.) Heavenly Prize, on the other hand, had a full racing career, winning major stakes races at age two, three and four years.

Heavenly Prize
(Skip Dickstein)

Born on February 17, 1991, Heavenly Prize was a sleek bay daughter of the Ogden Phipps’ top racehorse Seeking the Gold out of the Nijinsky II mare Oh What a Dance. Making her first start in September 1993, she cantered home 9 lengths clear in a 6 furlong maiden race at Belmont Park. Heavenly Prize’s next start, also at Belmont Park was the one mile Frizette Stakes. Strategic Maneuver, who had won her first four starts including the Schuylerville, Spinaway and Matron Stakes, was installed the prohibitive favorite, but Heavenly Prize drew attention in that her normally conservative trainer Shug McGaughey did not typically send horses into a major stakes race off a single maiden victory. Reserved off the early pace by jockey Mike Smith, Heavenly Prize made an eye catching move around the far turn to challenge for the lead and drew off majestically in the stretch for a 7 length victory in a final time faster than the two-year-old colts did in the Champagne Stakes run later on the Belmont card.

McGaughey sent Heavenly Prize west to contest the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in her final year start. At post time, Heavenly Prize was a slight favorite over West Coasters Sardula and Phone Chatter. The daughter of Seeking the Gold raced along the inside in fourth place, but lacked a closing rally, finishing third beaten 3 lengths to the embattled pair of Phone Chatter and Sardula.

In March 1994 Heavenly Prize had her three-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park and found the 6 furlongs of the What a Summer Stakes too short in finishing second beaten 2½ lengths. A subsequent virus would keep her from racing till just before summer. The Phipps stable had a more than adequate replacement in Ogden Mills Phipps’ Inside Information, a tall daughter of Private Account from the same dam as the accomplished older filly Educated Risk. Inside Information, a winner of one of two starts in 1993, started the new year with a hard earned allowance win over Cinnamon Sugar, who would be a frequent pursuer. Racing next in the 8½ furlong Bonnie Miss Stakes at Gulfstream, Inside Information drew clear over Cinnamon Sugar for a 2¾ length victory. Sent to Keeneland for the 8½ furlong Ashland Stakes, the Phipps color bearer coasted to a 5½ length victory over Bunting who was a neck in front of Private Status. Cinnamon Sugar finished fourth in her third straight loss to Inside Information.

Trainer Shug McGaughey chose the Acorn Stakes over the Kentucky Oaks (they were run two days apart), as Inside Information’s next start. On a sloppy Belmont oval, the daughter of Private Account scored a runaway 11 length victory with Cinnamon Sugar reassuming her customary second place finish. In the next two years, stable mates Heavenly Prize and Inside Information would dominate the East Coast filly and mare division on dirt, and each would be rewarded with an Eclipse Award.

Heavenly Prize came back from her winter illness with two placings in sprint races, in June with a second in the 6 furlong Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park and a third in the 7 furlong Test Stakes at Saratoga. Her next start was the 1¼ mile Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. The heavy favorite was Lakeway who was second in the Kentucky Oaks but a runaway winner in both the Mother Goose Stakes (defeating Inside Information) and the Hollywood Oaks (defeating Kentucky Oaks winner Sardula).

Dismissed at over 5-1, bettors ignored that Heavenly Prize was bred for extended distances, and her losses sprinting were just conditioners. In the Alabama, Two Altazano set a moderate early pace until passed down the backstretch by Lakeway. Around the far turn, the Seattle Slew filly was cruising on a daylight lead, but, with Mike Smith aboard, Heavenly Prize took up the chase around the stretch turn. Just when it appeared there would be a duel in the stretch, the Phipps filly drew out imperially, leaving Lakeway in her wake. At the finish, Heavenly Prize was 7 lengths in front of the prohibitive favorite.

After the Alabama, Heavenly Prize returned to Belmont Park and won both the Gazelle Handicap and the Beldame Stakes impressively. In the Gazelle, carrying top weight of 123 lb., Heavenly Prize waited behind the other runners in fifth (last place) until mid-stretch when Mike Smith steered her to the outside, and she showed her tremendous stretch kick to win by 6½ lengths over Cinnamon Sugar (who was now familiar with seeing cherry red and black silks in front of her). Heavenly Prize only faced three opponents (one of which was stable mate Educated Risk) in the Beldame at scale weights. The presence of the formidable Phipps entry in the small field caused the Beldame to be held as a betless exhibition which Heavenly Prize won with a commanding 6 length victory over her stable mate under new rider Pat Day. (Mike Smith was committed to ride Sky Beauty in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.) By now, Heavenly Prize had assumed leadership in the sophomore filly division.

I would like to note the dominance of Phipps stable fillies. Inside Information was brilliant until forced to the sidelines after the Mother Goose. Heavenly Prize produced a championship campaign in the second half of the year. The four-year-old Dispute who had won the Kentucky Oaks in 1993, ended her career on a high note winning the Spinster Stakes. Finally, Educated Risk, Inside Information’s older half-sister was unbeatable after the Beldame, running away with the Churchill Budweiser Breeders’ Cup, Top Flight and Virginia Handicaps in 1994 and the Shirley Jones and Rampart Handicaps in early 1995, the last under 126 lb. After the Rampart, Educated Risk joined Dispute in the Phipps broodmare ranks at Claiborne Farm in Paris,  KY.

The Breeders’ Cup was run at Churchill Downs in 1994. The Breeders’ Cup Distaff set up as a championship decider for older filly/mares on dirt. Four-year-olds, Hollywood Wildcat and Sky Beauty, first and fifth respectively, in the previous year’s Distaff, were back again. With Lakeway, Sardula and Inside Information absent, the sole major contender for the sophomores was Heavenly Prize. She was originally coupled with her older stable mate, Dispute, but the latter was a late scratch, altering, the dynamics of the race. At post time, Hollywood Wildcat was the slight favorite over Sky Beauty with Heavenly Prize the strong third choice.

In a puzzling outcome, One Dreamer, at odds 47-1, galloped to the lead, was unchallenged while setting a slow pace under Gary Stevens and hung on grimly as Heavenly Prize mounted a late stretch charge. At the finish, One Dreamer, whose four previous starts had been on grass, was a neck in front of the Phipps color bearer. Third, 1½ lengths behind was Miss Dominque. Both Hollywood Wildcat and Sky Beauty were great disappointments, finishing sixth and ninth, respectively. Heavenly Prize’s effort in the Distaff was sufficient to secure her the Eclipse Award for Three-year-old Filly.

Heavenly Prize began her four-year-old campaign in 1995 in the Oaklawn Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap, finishing second to Halo America while conceding 6 lb. Her next start was the prestigious Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park which attracted Halo America and dual Apple Blossom victress Paseana. In the race, Halo America took the early lead, but with only a 4 lb. weight differential could not hold off Heavenly Prize’s dependable charge. At the finish, the Shug McGaughey trainee was a length in front of Halo America with Paseana finishing third, another 4 lengths behind.

The Phipps stable’s other star sophomore filly of 1994, Inside Information began her campaign at Keeneland winning a 7 furlong allowance race by 4 lengths. She next raced in the one mile Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park where she faced Sky Beauty who had extended her perfect record at Belmont Park to 12 for 12 with a 4 length win in the Vagrancy Handicap to start her five-year-old season. Mike Smith, regular rider of both Inside Information and Sky Beauty chose the former, and Julie Krone was put aboard the latter. In the four horse Shuvee field, Inside Information, carrying 119 lb. (getting 7 lb. from Sky Beauty), forced the early pace and then drew clear in the stretch, winning by 5½ lengths over Sky Beauty, thus inflicting the first defeat of “The Queen of Belmont’s” illustrious career at her home track.

Shug McGaughey, wanting to keep Inside Information and Heavenly Prize apart, at least until the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, sent the former to New Jersey in early June for the 1 mile, 70 yd. Monmouth Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap and back again on July 4 for the 8½ furlong Molly Pitcher Handicap. The elegant daughter of Private Account used her good speed to win both by 2¼ lengths and 6¾ lengths, respectively, under top weight each time. Heavenly Prize stayed at Belmont where she ran in the 8½ furlong Hempstead Handicap against Sky Beauty. There was a 2 lb. difference in the Phipps’ filly favor, but that does not account for the margin of victory as Heavenly Prize came off the pace to defeat Little Buckles by 1¼ lengths with Sky Beauty some 10½ lengths further back in third place. This performance, one of her poorest ever and certainly her worst at Belmont Park, prompted Sky Beauty’s retirement.

Both Inside Information and Heavenly Prize ran during the Saratoga meet. The former saw her perfect record for the year go by the wayside after a stumbling start in the 7 furlong Ballerina Handicap. Spotting distance and weight (7 lb.) proved insurmountable as Inside Information was unable to catch the flying front runner, Classy Mirage, who won by 6 lengths. Heavenly Prize had better fortune at the Spa, running twice and coming away with two runaway victories. In the 9 furlong Go for Wand Handicap, the Phipps stable star under 123 lb. tucked back in fourth place in early going, and then put in a devastating rally around the 3/8 of mile pole to sweep to the lead around the stretch turn. At the finish, Heavenly Prize was 11 lengths in front of Forcing Bid (108 lb.). Racing next in the furlong longer John A. Morris Handicap with the weight now 127 lb., the daughter of Seeking the Gold put in another breathtaking surge to draw ahead by 8½ lengths. Forcing Bid (108 lb.) again was second, and Cinnamon Sugar (114 lb.) took third, another 2 lengths behind.

Back at Belmont, Inside Information shook off her loss in the Ballerina Handicap with an eye-opening 11 length victory under 125 lb. in the 8½ furlong Ruffian Handicap. On the same weekend both Inside Information and Heavenly Prize had their final prep races for the Distaff. The former, having started her four-year-old campaign at Keeneland, returned for the 9 furlong Spinster Stakes. The race started badly for the Dinny Phipps filly as she broke poorly in the four horse field. However, in a pulsating drive, Inside Information gained the victory by a head over Jade Flush whom she had beaten decisively in the Molly Pitcher and Ruffian Handicaps. Some observers were perplexed by Inside Information’s narrow win, but the hard effort served as a good tightener for the much more contentious Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

On the day before the Spinster, the 9 furlong Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park served as a meeting between the pro-tem leaders in both the sophomore and older female divisions on dirt. Heavenly Prize was the strong favorite over future Hall of Famer Serena’s Song. Also, entered was Lakeway who was making her third start after recovering from an illness suffered after her defeat (by Heavenly Prize) in last year’s Alabama Stakes. Any hopes in the Phipps camp that Lakeway would engage “Serena” early were dashed as the sophomore filly set a controlled pace under Gary Stevens. Coming into the stretch with a 4 length lead, Serena’s Song was able to confidently hold off Heavenly Prize’s rally by ¾ of a length. Finishing third, some 6¾ lengths behind, in a flat effort was Lakeway. With Serena’s Song, Heavenly Prize, Inside Information and Lakeway all headed for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, it loomed as one of the most anticipated contests on Breeders’ Cup Day.

In 1995, the Breeders’ Cup was contested on a sloppy Belmont track surface. In the Distaff, the Phipps stable packed a powerful 1–2 punch with Heavenly Prize and Inside Information, but Serena’s Song was having, if you ignore the presence of Cigar (who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic later that day), a Horse of the Year campaign. One near certainty was that the pace would be much faster than Serena’s Song enjoyed in the Beldame Stakes, given the presence of speedsters Mariah’s Storm, Bordislew and Inside Information.

At the start, somewhat surprisingly, Lakeway jumped out in front followed closely by Mariah’s Storm and Serena’s Song. Inside Information from her no. 1 post position broke behind the front runners, but soon after came up the vacated rail. Engaging the leaders after a ½ mile, Mike Smith on Inside Information let his filly roll and roll she did pulling away with ease from Lakeway, Serena’s Song and Mariah’s Storm around the long Belmont turn. Heavenly Prize was far back in the early going in ninth place until Pat Day asked her for her run on the far turn. She moved steadily up the rail; however, by the top of the stretch Heavenly Prize’s stable mate was long gone. In one of the most devastating performances in Breeders’ Cup history, Inside Information won by a record 13½ lengths. Heavenly Prize passed all in the stretch except her barn mate in finishing second by 2¼ lengths over Lakeway. Serena’s Song was the disappointment of the race in finishing fifth. The final time was a stakes record for the Distaff and within a second of Secretariat’s Belmont track record. For Shug McGaughey, this was another masterpiece of training in bringing his two fillies up to the race to finish first and second.

The Eclipse Award for Older Female was given to Inside Information who was retired to join the Phipps broodmare barn at Claiborne Farm. Heavenly Prize, who had now run in three consecutive Breeders’ Cups with two seconds and one third to show for her efforts, would race once more (in 1996), finishing third to Cigar in the Donn Handicap.

Her race record shows 18 starts, racing nearly always at the highest class with nine victories, six seconds and three thirds, earning over $1.8 million. As a broodmare, Heavenly Prize had eight named foals, seven of which were winners. The most accomplished was Good Reward, a son of Storm Cat who won major races on grass. His full brother Pure Prize was also a stakes winner, but achieved more success as a stallion, particularly in Argentina. A half sibling, Just Reward produced major winner Persistently.

Heavenly Prize was inducted into the National Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 2018, but her lasting impact may now be her relation to the third dam of Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. That certainly can be deemed a “heavenly prize”.