Golden Pal cruises to front-running repeat in Woodford Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Brilliant? Intimidating? Dazzling? Special? Pick an adjective.
"He's something," trainer Wesley Ward said of Golden Pal, who he has called the best horse he's ever had. "He's just such a special talent, this guy. He's a joy to be around."
Golden Pal remained unbeaten on the Keeneland turf – and unbeaten in North American stakes company overall – with a 1 1/2-length win in the Grade 2, $350,000 Woodford Stakes. The winner of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on this course and the 2021 BC Turf Sprint at Del Mar, he solidified his status as a favorite for this year's edition on his home course by setting a stakes record in his repeat Woodford win.
Golden Pal ($2.74), one of the heaviest favorites on the stakes-loaded Saturday card at Keeneland, was coming off a win in the Grade 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga in which he showed a new dimension, relaxing after breaking a step slowly under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. and then coming on again for the win.
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But on Saturday, Golden Pal's customary early speed was on display. The colt broke like a shot and was a comfortable length ahead of Gear Jockey, another locally based graded stakes winner, through the quarter in 21.25 seconds. Heading toward the only turn of the race, Luis Saez was beginning to press Gear Jockey to keep up, but Ortiz had not yet moved on Golden Pal through a half in 43.42.
The plan was to "take it right to them, and then, hopefully, get a little breather on the front end, which we did," Ward said. "And then when they turned for home, he kicked on."
Turning into the stretch, Ortiz gave Golden Pal his cue, and he responded with a rush, bolting away to a three-length lead. Ortiz kept him to task from there with right-handed urging, but he was never seriously threatened, crossing the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front.
“He’s a fast horse. He’s an amazing horse,” Ortiz said. “He’s something else. I’m just happy to be on him. . . . He loves this track. It’s home for him.”
Golden Pal stopped the clock in 1:01.39 for the 5 1/2 furlongs, eclipsing the stakes mark established by Stubbins, who went in 1:01.44 in the 2019 edition. The track mark is 1:00.86, set by Leinster in the Grade 2 Shakertown held in summer 2020.
Golden Pal earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
"It's great to see it going into the Breeders' Cup," Ward said. "Especially, I know how sound he'll be after today, because the grass course here is so lush and opulent. I think we're in great shape."
Behind Golden Pal, the scramble was on for the other placings. Oceanic rallied very wide on the outside to nip second choice Artemus Citylimits, who was coming up the inside, for the place.
“I would say that effort puts him in the Breeders’ Cup,” said Jordan Blair, Oceanic’s trainer. “It is nearly impossible to beat Golden Pal, but you can’t win it if you’re not in it. I thought [Oceanic] would be a little closer to the front, but they were going so fast and Golden Pal was doing it so easy.”
Oceanic and Artemus Citylimits were just a half-length in front of Bad Beat Brian and Gear Jockey, who finished in a dead heat for fourth. Gear Jockey was making his first start since June and tired late after chasing Golden Pal early. They were followed, in order, by Charcoal, All in Sync, County Final, and Cadamosto.
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