Evening Jewel
Evening Jewel (foaled February 26, 2007 in California) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse by Northern Afleet out of Jewel of the Night, by Giant's Causeway. Northern Afleet is also the sire of 2005 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex. Evening Jewel was bred by Betty L. Mabee and her son Larry Mabee and is trained by James M. Cassidy and owned by the Braly Family Trust.
| Evening Jewel | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Northern Afleet |
| Grandsire | Afleet |
| Dam | Jewel of the Night |
| Damsire | Giant's Causeway |
| Sex | Filly |
| Foaled | 2007 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Betty L. Mabee and Larry Mabee |
| Owner | Braly Family Trust |
| Trainer | James M. Cassidy |
| Record | 19: 7-6-2 |
| Earnings | $1,221,399 |
| Major wins | |
| California Breeders' Cup (2009) Ashland Stakes (2010) Honeymoon Handicap (2010) Del Mar Oaks (2010) San Clemente Handicap (2010) Sunshine Millions Distaff (2011) | |
Evening Jewel's dam, Jewel of the Night, is a daughter of Jeweled Lady (General Meeting-Excellent Lady), who is a full sister to Grade 1 winner General Challenge and listed stakes winner Western Hemisphere, and a three-quarters sister to Grade 1 winner Notable Career.
Evening Jewel was initially purchased at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $8,000 and was privately sold to the Braly Family Trust for $132,500 as a two-year-old.
Said to have a "nice front running fashion," on April 3, 2010 she proved herself worthy of that year's Kentucky Oaks when she took the Grade I Ashland Stakes. The Ashland Stakes was the third win in the 10 starts of Evening Jewel's career, and it improved her earnings to $410,600.
2010 Kentucky Oaks
In the Kentucky Oaks, run on April 30 (the day before the Kentucky Derby), Evening Jewel faced heavily favored Blind Luck. Beaten by a nose by Blind Luck earlier in the year in the Las Virgenes Stakes, she looked to turn the tables on that rival.
Evening Jewel drew post 11 for the Kentucky Oaks, and was installed at 10-to-1 odds in the morning line and ridden by regular jockey Kent Desormeaux.
In the Kentucky Oaks, after leading for most of the way, she was again beaten a heartbreaking nose by eventual champion 3-year-old filly Blind Luck. It was considered a determined effort.
Turf Racing
On May 31, 2010, Evening Jewel took the Honeymoon Handicap in her turf debut and on August 21, 2010 she took her second Grade I turf win by winning the Del Mar Oaks. She suffered her first loss on turf on October 16, 2010, finishing 3rd in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland.
Versatile Filly
At the age of 3, Evening Jewel has won Grade 1 races on synthetic and turf surfaces, and finished 2nd by a nose in her only start on dirt, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.