Churchill Downs: Madly Truly tops deep cast in Golden Rod Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sometimes life just isn’t fair. This is verifiable by the degree of difficulty in evidence Saturday in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs.
“Compared to the colt race [the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill] or the Demoiselle [a $400,000 Grade 2 stakes that drew just six fillies Saturday at Aqueduct], this race looks extremely tough, with some real up-and-coming stars,” said trainer Mark Casse, who sends out Madly Truly in the $150,000 Golden Rod. “But you know what? It happens like that a lot. That’s just the way it is.”
Madly Truly, with Joe Rocco Jr. to ride, is one of many in the race that has a decent shot in the 70th Golden Rod, a 1 1/16-mile event that drew a field of 10. The daughter of Malibu Moon comes off a victory as the favorite in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes on Polytrack at Woodbine.
“It’s a question of whether she can transfer that good form to the dirt, and honestly, we always thought she liked the dirt,” Casse said. “She trained over it all spring there at Churchill.”
Besides Madly Truly, six other Golden Rod fillies won their last start, although two of the three who didn’t – Vexed and Stonetastic – figure among the top contenders in what clearly is a very well-matched race.
Vexed is trained by Al Stall Jr. for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider and was second in the Rags to Riches Stakes here last out. She is a half-sister to the outstanding filly Sign and “has shown us she should really like two turns,” Stall said. “We’re excited about her future.”
Stonetastic returns to Churchill from the East Coast for trainer Kelly Breen following a disappointing outing in the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct earlier this month. The gray filly was a sharp second in the Pocahontas Stakes on opening weekend of the new September meet behind Untapable, who subsequently was one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Other Golden Rod considerations include Daddy’s Memory, who earned a field-high 83 Beyer Speed Figure in a last-out maiden win over a sloppy track at Churchill; Maryland shipper Naive Enough, winner of her last two starts at Laurel Park for the resurgent Sagamore Farm; and the diverse Ian Wilkes trio of Runway Giant, Bird Maker, and Playful Love.
Similar to the Kentucky Jockey Club and points earned for the Kentucky Derby, the Golden Rod is worth 10 points to the winner for eligibility to the Kentucky Oaks next May. The Golden Rod is carded as the ninth of 12 Saturday races, with post time set for 4:35 p.m. Eastern. The Kentucky Jockey Club follows an hour later.