Susan's Girl

Susan's Girl
Sire	Quadrangle
Grandsire	Cohoes
Dam	Quaze
Damsire	Quibu
Sex	Filly
Foaled	1969
Country	United States
Color	Bay
Breeder	Fred Hooper Jr.
Owner	Fred W. Hooper
Trainer	John W. Russell (at 3); Chuck Parke (at 4); J. L. Newman (a 6); L. Ross Fenstermaker (at 6)
Record	63: 29-14-11
Earnings	$1,251,668
Major wins
	Signature Stakes (1971?); Villager Stakes (1971?); Pasadena Stakes (1972); Acorn Stakes (1972); Cotillion Handicap (1972); Santa Susana Stakes (1972); Santa Ynez Stakes (1972); La Troienne Stakes (1972); Kentucky Oaks (1972); Beldame Stakes (1972, 1975); Gazelle Stakes (1972); Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (1973); Santa Maria Handicap (1973); Santa Barbara Handicap (1973); Susquehanna Handicap (1973); Spinster Stakes (1973, 1975); Delaware Handicap (1973, 1975); Falls City Handicap (1974); Matchmaker Stakes (1975); Apple Blossom Handicap (1975); Long Beach Handicap (1975); Gamely Stakes (1975)
Awards
	American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (1972); American Champion Older Female Horse (1973 & 1975)
Honors
	U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1976); #51 - Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century; Susan's Girl Stakes at Delaware Park; Susan's Girl Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Susan's Girl (1969–October 18, 1988) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.

Background

Susan's Girl was bred and owned by Fred W. Hooper. Hooper was born poor on a Southern farm and eventually became rich enough to buy, breed, and run some of the best Thoroughbred horses of his day. His first purchase was Hoop Jr., named after his son, and winner of the 1945 Kentucky Derby. Over the years, Hooper built up a successful stable.

Racing career

Racing as a two-year-old in 1971, Susan's Girl came up against a top filly called Numbered Account. As a three-year-old, Susan's Girl began to win races, taking nine out of her thirteen starts and never finishing out of the money. That year she was the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly when Secretariat took both the male honors as well as becoming Horse of the Year.

At four, racing on both coasts, Susan's Girl won over $500,000.

By the end of the racing season in 1973, Hooper's filly was second only to the filly Shuvee in career earnings. Hooper wanted to see his filly become the first distaffer to win a million dollars. But in February 1974, she chipped a bone in her left foreleg. Hooper sent her to the noted equine surgeon Dr. Robert Copelan. Copelan removed three chips, then sent her home to Hooper's Farm in Ocala, Florida. For two months, Susan's Girl swam in the nearby Lake Weir every day. After nine months, she recovered and returned to the races.

At the age of five, Susan's Girl made a comeback. During her recovery, two females had passed the million dollar mark (Dahlia and Allez France), but these were European records. Hooper still hoped for the American record. In November 1974, Susan's Girl won the Falls City Handicap. In 1975, at the age of six, she had her best season in terms of earnings, winning six stakes and placed in eight. In the Matchmaker Stakes in Atlantic City, New Jersey, she set a track record. She beat males as well as older females and made her million plus dollars.

Of her 29 wins, 24 came in stakes races. Susan's Girl is the only filly throughout the twentieth century to win a three-year-old championship and then two older female championships.

Stud record

As a broodmare, Susan's Girl produced a Grade I winner, Copelan, named after her surgeon. She died on Hooper's farm on October 18, 1988.

External links

Susan's Girl pedigree and photo. The foal is by Alydar
Susan's Girl in the Hall of Fame

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