Fools Gold gets first stakes win in Waya

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fools Gold, the lesser regarded of trainer Chad Brown’s two entrants in Sunday’s $200,000 Waya Stakes, parlayed her improving form and a perfect trip into a three-quarter length decision over Get Explicit in the Grade 3 test for older fillies and mares. Brown’s second entrant, Santa Monica, finished an unlucky third following a bit of an eventful trip as the 6-5 favorite.

Fools Gold, a 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, was making her graded stakes debut in the 1 1/2-mile Waya while having shown improvement from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint in each of her six starts on grass dating back to September of 2018.

With Javier Castellano aboard, Fools Gold raced well placed just off the early pace set by Sky Full of Stars, engaged the leader midway on the third turn, edged clear in early stretch then withstood belated tries from both Get Explicit and Santa Monica. The latter was steadied briefly and shuffled back in traffic approaching the final turn, swung widest into the stretch, continued willingly outside the horses but could not muster the necessary response, finishing a neck behind Get Explicit.

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Owned by Wise Racing, Fools Gold completed 12 furlongs over firm ground in 2:27.21 and paid $8.40.

“I told Javier, 'If she breaks out of there good, go to the lead,' because there wasn’t a lot of speed in the race,” said Brown. “But if someone was intent on going to the front just to lay second. That’s what he did, he decided to back off, Joel [Rosario on Sky Full of Stars] took the initiative, and he just timed it perfectly.”

Brown said he credited much of Fools Gold’s steady improvement to physical maturity.

“I’m so proud of her development,” said Brown. “She’s just progressed all season and now she’s a player in this division. The owners, Mr. Allen Wise and his sons, are terrific. They allowed me to give her the time. I’m so happy for them. This was their first stakes win and to have it here at Saratoga is something to see. I’m so happy for them.”

As for Santa Monica, Brown commented, “The other filly did not have a trip that was desirable to say the least.”