posted on 9/8/2011 12:49 pm

As American Jewel approached the Winner’s Circle at Mohawk Raceway earlier this month, after winning the She’s a Great Lady in world record time, I couldn’t help but reflect back upon the family of the regal two-year-old pacing filly.

It all started in the fall of 1980 when George Segal purchased an Albatross filly named Opaque at the inaugural Kentucky Standardbred Sale.  He later renamed her Three Diamonds.  Three Diamonds was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Gene Reigle and driven by his son Bruce Reigle.  Three Diamonds had a remarkable racing career and is still considered one of the best pacing fillies of the last few decades.  George Segal built one of the most renowned broodmare bands ever seen in our sport with the help of his first foundation mare Three Diamonds.  

Her offspring includes Little Brown Jug winner and great stallion Life Sign and a foal of 1992 named Lifetime Success who then went on to produce the great pacing colt and newest stallion sensation American Ideal.  It was in the fall of 2005 that American Ideal established the new track record of P, 3, 1:47.4 at the Red Mile. 

One month later George Segal purchased Trim Hanover at the Hanover Shoe Farms yearling consignment in Harrisburg, PA.  Besides having flawless conformation she happened to be the great granddaughter of Three Diamonds.  When Trim Hanover’s racing career was over, there was no other choice but to breed her to American Ideal.

The result, American Jewel, our newest world record holder and hopefully down the road another great broodmare. 

At the Lexington yearling sale on October 3, Hip #57 Source of Pride, a full brother to American Jewel will be selling in the Brittany Farms yearling consignment.  As Roger Houston would say “Be There”.

MLB