Golden Rocket takes Statue of Liberty as longest shot on the board
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Golden Rocket, a former lower-level claimer making her first start against New York-bred opposition, rallied strongly down the center of the track under apprentice Jose Gomez to spring a 33-1 upset by a half-length over Royal Dancer on Thursday at Saratoga in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series.
Golden Rocket finished third in a $16,000 maiden-claiming race in her 2-year-old finale at Tampa Bay and was ultimately haltered for the same price by her present connections, owners Chad Anshelewitz and Robert Lambe, out of a second-place effort on June 3 at Monmouth Park. The daughter of Alpha returned quick dividends, defeating $20,000 starter-allowance competition one month later at the New Jersey oval, a prelude of what was to come in her local debut, the one-mile Statue of Liberty.
With apprentice Jose Gomez aboard, Golden Rocket settled in mid-pack about a dozen lengths off the pacesetting Howdyoumakeurmoney, who sprinted off to a lengthy early advantage through splits of 23.31 seconds and 47.13 over the firm course. Golden Rocket saved ground for more than six furlongs, angled out for clearance in early stretch, swapped leads a couple of times coming to the eighth pole, then responded to vigorous urging from Gomez to run down Royal Dancer nearing the wire.
Royal Dancer also saved ground during the early running, eased out to commence her bid at the top of the stretch, stuck her head in front between calls near mid-stretch but could not withstand the winner’s final bid. Busy Morning, the 8-5 favorite, gained command briefly from the tiring leader a furlong from the wire but could not contain the top pair at the end.
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Trained by Patricia Farro, Golden Rocket covered the distance in 1:36.22 while giving Gomez the second stakes victory of his riding career and his first in New York. Golden Rocket paid $68.50 as the longest price in the eight horse field of 3-year-old New York-bred fillies.
“We took her for 16, we knew she was a New York-bred, we ran her in a starter, we asked for permission to come up here to see if she was this caliber and obviously she proved she was,” Anshelewitz said in the winner’s circle after the race. “We had her half-brother, Matty’s Express, and we won with him up here last year [New York bred allowance race] too. Mike and Patricia [Farro] have done a great job with her, she’s done everything right since we’ve had her, we took a chance and we’re excited about her future.”