Laulne, King of Gosford will likely go longer after sprint victories

ARCADIA, Calif. - A day after they teamed to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby with Stronghold, trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Antonio Fresu swept Sunday’s two turf sprints for 3-year-olds on the hillside course at Santa Anita with prospects who will be tried at longer distances in coming months.

King of Gosford won the $100,500 John Shear Stakes for his third win in his last four starts and second win in as many starts this year.

Two races later, Laulne won her 2024 debut in the $101,000 Angels Flight Stakes for fillies, her first start since a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita last November.

King of Gosford ($6.40) stalked Charge for Gold on the hillside before taking the lead as the field reached the main turf oval. The second choice in a field of six, King of Gosford led by a length with a furlong remaining and won by that margin over 10-1 Raging Torrent.

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Miracle Mark (10-1) closed from last to finish third, followed by Charge for Gold, Heart Headed and Practically Broke. Heart Headed, the 9-10 favorite, was well placed when the field reached the main turf course but was no threat late, losing by 3 3/4 lengths.

King of Gosford, an Irish-bred colt by the Northern Meteor stallion Zoustar, ran about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11.98, and is unbeaten in two starts in California. The colt won an allowance race at six furlongs on the oval turf course on March 10.

King of Gosford earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

Last fall, King of Gosford won a seven-furlong handicap on the synthetic track at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, his only win in six starts in that country.

King of Gosford races for the partnership of Sandra Benowitz, John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff.

D’Amato said King of Gosford could return to the hillside course for the $100,000 Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds on May 19 before being tried in two-turn races at the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins on July 20.

“We’ll try him long,” D’Amato said. “He’s got a long stride and he has tactical speed. I don’t think two turns will be an issue.”

Laulne, also the second choice, closed from fourth in a field of seven to catch stretch leader Alluring in the final strides, winning by a nose. Laulne was timed in 1:12.37 for about 6 1/2 furlongs and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 74.

Girl of My Dreams led the Angels Flight field down the hill before being passed by 4-1 Alluring, who looked to have the race won until Laulne rallied through the final furlong.

“I really liked her grit and determination,” D’Amato said.

Girl of My Dreams (16-1) held third, beaten a length, and was followed in the order of finish by Antifona, Invincible Molly, Zona Verde and She Is Romantic. Antifona (3-1) and Zona Verde (the 5-2 favorite) are also trained by D’Amato.

Zona Verde was beaten three lengths.

Laulne, who races for Madaket Stable Panic Stable, Gerard Augustin-Normand, Robert LaPenta, and William Strauss, will be tried in two-turn races this summer at Del Mar.

A winner of 4 of 8 starts, Laulne is by Starspangledbanner and was bred in France, where she began her career. In that country, Laulne won three consecutive races, including the Group 3 Prix Six Perfections at the prestigious Deauville summer meeting last July.

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