Calder: Fort Loudon, Rosebud Road defy track bias in stakes victories

Tom Keyser

The 3-year-old Fort Loudon will be pointed to the Unbridled on June 9.

MIAMI – Trainer Stanley Gold was justifiably proud of the performances of Fort Loudon and Redbud Road, who captured the In Summation and French Village stakes here at Calder last weekend. Gold was pleased not only with the fact they both won but the manner in which his two top 3-year-olds achieved their victories.

“What I liked best was the fact that almost every race was won wire to wire over the drying out track here Saturday and they both sat, finished strong, and won against the bias,” said Gold. “I think they really proved they were the best.”

Fort Loudon had to overcome the tough inside post and the speedy Hello Prince to register his first win at 3 after he had taken on and held his own against many of the leading members of the division this past winter at Gulfstream Park in the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth, and Florida Derby.

Redbud Road was fit and ready for a big performance despite making her first start in nearly seven months in the French Village.

“I would have been disappointed if they both didn’t run big but it doesn’t always work out that way,” said Gold, who trains both Fort Loudon and Redbud Road for owner-breeder Fred Brei. “They still have to go out and get it done.”

Gold said both his 3-year-olds would return on Summit Preview day, June 9, with Fort Loudon in the Unbridled and Redbud Road in the Leave Me Alone.

“I’m not going to look beyond those two races at the moment,” said Gold. “Obviously the logical progression, if they run well again, would be to go into the Summit of Speed but I’m going to leave that alone and not think about it now because I don’t have to. When you get to the Summit of Speed it’s like being back at Gulfstream again, some of the best horses in the country will be there, so we’ll look at the nominations when they come out and make a decision then.”

Gold will also need a new jockey for Fort Loudon now that his regular rider, Luis Jurado, has announced his intention to leave south Florida within the next couple of weeks to embark on a three-month riding tour through Macau.

Jurado is already internationally experienced, having spent nine years in Saudi Arabia prior to becoming a member of the local riding colony in 2009. Jurado will join his brother-in-law, Luis Corrales, who is currently riding in Macau.

“I’ll be there for three months with an opportunity to extend that time,” said Jurado. “The plan is for my family to stay here for the first three months but if I do well and choose to stay, they will come out.”

Gold, has been one of Jurado’s biggest supporters here over the years.

“He’s a very analytical rider, has good instincts and is an all-around polished rider,” said Gold. “Not only will I have to replace him on Fort Loudon but on most every other horse in my barn. Naturally I’m disappointed to lose him. It’s really bad timing when you’re hitting on all cylinders. I’m sorry to see him go but he’s doing what’s best for him and I wish him luck.”