Hoist the Gold takes long route to Breeders' Cup Sprint berth

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Dream Team One Racing Stable paid $50,000 this summer to make Hoist the Gold Breeders’ Cup eligible.

Trainer Dallas Stewart took the 4-year-old to Del Mar for the Bing Crosby Stakes specifically to try and qualify for the BC Sprint, but Hoist the Gold ran below form in that race, finishing eighth, and was little better when sixth in the Pat O’Brien Stakes.

Back in Kentucky, Hoist the Gold had one more chance to win a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, and got the job done Friday with a career-best performance in winning the Phoenix Stakes.

“It all came together in the end,” trainer Dallas Stewart said.

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Hoist the Gold got a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Phoenix and has returned to Stewart’s barn at Churchill in good shape. “He came out great,” Stewart said.

John Velazquez rode Hoist the Gold for the first time on Friday, and rode him well, asking for more early speed from the colt and getting it, which led to a sweet stalking trip from third. Velazquez is likely to retain the mount in the BC Sprint, according to Stewart.

Hoist the Gold will do his major training for the Sprint at Churchill and ships to Santa Anita on Oct. 30, Stewart said.

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