BY BROCK SHERIDAN

JULY 19, 2003—A confident Jerry Bailey allowed odds-on favorite Spoken Fur to relax behind a fast pace before assuming control in the turn then effortlessly drawing off in the stretch to win the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park, extending her winning streak to five. Victorious of the nine-furlong Mother Goose (G1) in her previous start, Florida-bred Spoken Fur took the first two legs of the Triple Tiara for fillies, putting her in a position to earn a $2 million bonus if she won the mile-and-a-quarter Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 16 in her next race. 

Spoken Fur was making her second start in the navy blue and white colors of Amerman Racing LLC and for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Frankel suggested John Amerman purchase Spoken Fur from William Ryan, George Smith and Wilbur E. Johnson shortly before the Mother Goose when she had shipped into Frankel’s barn from Churchill Downs for previous trainer Austin Smith. 

Under Smith, Spoken Fur had won a seven-furlong maiden special weight by more than six lengths at Keeneland in her fifth career starts in April of 2003. She then won a pair of allowance races, first at seven furlongs on April 30 then going a mile on May 21, at Churchill Downs before Smith sent her to New York for the Mother Goose.

Making her first start for Frankel and Amerman, Spoken Fur won the Mother Goose by five-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Claiborne Farm’s Yell.

In the mile-and-a-half Coaching Club American Oaks, 37-1 longshot Shapes and Shadows stumbled at the start then shot to a clear lead through a quarter-mile split in :22.92 before 50-1 dark horse Skipamiss drew even after a half mile in :46.59. Yell and jockey John Velazquez, who were second to Spoken Fur in the Mother Goose, were handed the lead after six furlongs but could not hold off Spoken Fur to her outside around the second turn. Spoken Fur was more than two lengths in front at the top of the stretch and eight lengths lengths ahead with a furlong to run before gearing down to win 1:32.02 on the fast track. Fircroft took second while three-and-a-half lengths back as Savedbythelight was another four-and-a-half lengths farther behind in third. Yell, Little Bonnet completed the order of finish as Shapes and Shadows and Skipamiss both were pulled up after a mile.

Spoken Fur paid $3.80 to win.

Unfortunately, that was the last victory for Spoken Fur. In the Alabama, she moved into contention at the top of the stretch but surrendered to finish third, seven lengths shy of winner Island Fashion. She was then third in the Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap won by Buy the Sport at Belmont in September and seventh in Film Maker’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 11, 2003 in her last career start.

Spoken Fur retired with a career ledger of five wins in 12 starts with a second and four thirds, earning of $675,880.

By Notebook out of Siberian Fur, Spoken Fur was bred in Florida by George A. Smith and Dr. Wilbur E. Johnston, who owned Woodburn Farm near Centerville, Ohio. Smith and Johnston purchased Siberian Fur while carrying Spoken Fur for $20,000 at the 2000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale where she was consigned by Red Sunset Farm as agent. 

Woodburn Farm sold Siberian Fur for $325,000 while carrying a full sister to Spoken Fur at the 2003 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Amerman bred Spoken Fur to Empire Maker in 2004, producing winning filly Unspoken Fur; and to Gone West in 2005, producing winning gelding Wells Fargo. He bred Spoken Fur to Empire Maker again in 2006, producing non-starter Fit Fur a King. He sold Spoken Fur in foal to Smart Strike at the 2007 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale where she brought $1,650,000 on a final bid from Southern Equine Stables.

Spoken Fur eventually produced 14 foals including seven winners from 10 starters. Spoken Fur had one stakes winner, Serendip, a 2010 colt by Ghostzapper, winner of the 2014 Prairie Meadows Handicap (Listed). 

In January of 2010, Spoken Fur was sold by Kerry Cauthen’s Four Star as an agent for Southern Equine for $500,000 to Narvick International, representing Symboli Stud of Japan. In Japan, Spoken Fur’s best runner was winner Symboli Bague (Jpn), an earner of US$494,052 by Daiwa Major (Jpn).

Return to the July 19 issue of Wire to Wire