Dakota Gold benefits from aggressive ride in Cab Calloway division of the NYSS

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After Dakota Gold was upset as the odds-on choice in the Rick Violette Stakes earlier in the meet, trainer Danny Gargan promised the strategy was to be more aggressive when the New York-bred returned Wednesday in the $150,000 Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series.

And sure enough that’s exactly how the race played out, with Dakota Gold controlling the pace nearly every step of the way before settling for a one-length victory over Marinara Sauced in the one-mile turf test for 3-year-old statebreds.

Four weeks earlier going a mile and one-sixteenth for the first time in the Rick Violette, Dakota Gold rated off the early leaders, got hung wide and was outfinished by the rail-skimming Practice Squad. But jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. left nothing to chance from the outset in the Cab Calloway, guiding Dakota Gold to the lead shortly after the start before slowing the pace to a relatively soft 49.18 seconds for the opening half-mile.

Dakota Gold shook off a mild bid from the 63-1 He’s Got It turning for home, settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage, then had enough left to withstand a late surge from Marinara Sauced while under vigorous handling to the end.

Marinara sauced was easily second best, finishing 2 1/2 lengths clear of Born Dancer.

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The win was the fourth in six starts for Dakota Gold and the eighth of the meet for his owner, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, with five of those victories coming in stakes. The tepid 5-2 favorite in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Dakota Gold completed a mile in 1:37.20 over the firm course and paid $2.60.

“We played around with that field the other day and it got me beat,” Gargan admitted, referring to the Rick Violette. “We couldn’t take that chance today. I think he’s a little better if he stalks, but I didn’t want to take any chances today.

“Let’s just go and get it out of the way. That was our plan and it worked out.”

Gargan said the strategy may be a little different for Dakota Gold’s next start.

“Next time we’re going to try open company and I probably won’t send him in there, it just depends upon the pace scenario,” said Gargan. “But he’s fast, he won here going 5 1/2 furlongs and sat right on it going a fast pace last year.

“He’s a super cool horse. I’m blessed that Dean and Patti Reeves gave him to me. I’m just happy to be part of the team.”

Gargan said he’s looking at stakes races at Keeneland or Aqueduct for Dakota Gold’s next start.

“We’ve got some different options, we might wind up at Keeneland with him next time,” Gargan said. “I think he’s a little better at a mile. We’re going to keep him against 3-year-olds the rest of this year with the Hollywood Derby where we’re going to end the year at.”