Heavenly Prize, bred in Kentucky by owner Ogden Phipps, won the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in 1994. A Grade 1 winner at ages 2, 3 and 4, she was trained by Hall of Famer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III. Heavenly Prize won the Grade 1 Frizette at age 2, and three consecutive Grade 1s as a 3-year-old: the Alabama, Gazelle and Beldame.
As a 4-year-old, Heavenly Prize won four Grade 1s in a row: the Apple Blossom Handicap, Hempstead Handicap, Go for Wand Stakes and John A. Morris Handicap. She also finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in both 1994 and 1995. Raced once as a 5-year-old, she finished third in the Donn Handicap, which was won by Hall of Famer Cigar.
Heavenly Prize was retired with a career record of 9-6-3 from 18 starts and earnings of $1,825,940. Throughout her career, she defeated the likes of Hall of Famers Paseana and Sky Beauty, as well as multiple graded stakes winners Lakeway, Halo America and Classy Mirage, among others. Eight of Heavenly Prize’s nine career victories were in Grade 1 events. Heavenly Prize was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith for her first eight starts and by Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day for her final 10 races.
As a broodmare, Heavenly Prize produced seven winners from eight starters, including the multiple Grade 1-winning turf standout Good Reward. She is also the dam of Grade 2 winner and successful sire Pure Prize. Heavenly Prize also produced stakes winner Cosmic; stakes-placed Distinctively; and Just Reward, whose daughter Persistently upset Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.
Heavenly Prize died in 2013 at the age of 22 at Claiborne Farm. She was elected to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2018.