It's all Mandy's Gold in Honorable Miss

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mandy's Gold brought her road show to Saratoga on Friday and once again played to rave reviews, leading throughout to post a 1 3/4-length victory over Shine Again in the $100,000 Honorable Miss Handicap. Gold Mover, the 3-2 favorite in a field of six fillies and mares, finished a non-threatening fourth in the Grade 3 race, run over a sloppy track.

Mandy's Gold had won each of her last three starts, all stakes, at Philadelphia Park, Arlington Park, and Delaware Park. The Honorable Miss marked the first time she had raced at Saratoga and the first time she'd run in New York since being disqualified from first and placed second in the 2001 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct.

"We wanted to bring her here for the Test last summer but little things kept setting her back," said Mike Gorham, who trains Mandy's Gold for the Steeplechase Farm of his brother John.

Mandy's Gold broke alertly under jockey Edgar Prado to contest the pace with Nasty Storm, shook clear entering the stretch, and had plenty left to turn back a bid from Shine Again. Shine Again raced along the inside early, eased out to challenge Nasty Storm in the stretch, and was easily second best. Dat You Miz Blue finished three lengths farther back in third after prompting the early pace.

Gold Mover was hustled along near the inside to race within striking distance down the backstretch, but had no response when put to pressure.

Trip and Nasty Storm rounded out the order of finish.

Mandy's Gold returned $12.60 after covering six furlongs in 1:09.24.

"She had some feet problems earlier this winter at Gulfstream Park, but we got those straightened out and she's just gotten better with every race," said Gorham, who said he planned to run her back in the $250,000 Ballerina here Aug. 25.

Mandy's Gold was Gorham's first stakes winner at Saratoga and his third consecutive winner here over the last three days.

Jerry Bailey, who rode Gold Mover, said, "She broke well and didn't really handle the going particularly well after that."