Nashoba's Gold brings back memories with Honeymoon Stakes win

ARCADIA, Calif. – The spring campaign of Nashoba’s Gold is bringing back memories for jockey Joe Talamo.

Nashoba’s Gold is a half-sister to the late multiple-stakes winner Nashoba’s Key, the first big filly of Talamo’s career. Talamo won four stakes on Nashoba’s Key, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf female of 2007.

Nashoba’s Gold has not achieved that level of success, but her career is moving rapidly in the right direction.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Nashoba’s Gold won her second graded stakes in the $200,250 Honeymooon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf. Talamo gave Nashoba’s Gold a confident ride, stalking the pace for the first seven furlongs before making a four-wide move to reach contention.

Nashoba’s Gold ($3.40) took the lead in the final furlong and finished a length in front of 29-1 Sweet Bliss. Nashoba’s Gold ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.61.

Talamo had Nashoba’s Gold in fifth for the first half-mile, stalking One More, Diversy Harbor, and Honey Ride, who raced within a length of the front through early fractions of 23.89 seconds and 48.53.

“I was glad to see three horses up there in a speed duel,” Talamo said. “I just pointed her in the right direction, and she did the rest. Once you get her momentum going, she’s like a freight train.”

Diversy Harbor, who beat Nashoba’s Gold in the minor China Doll Stakes over a mile on turf in May, finished third, a nose behind Sweet Bliss. Margot Machance and One More completed the order of finish.

Honey Ride was pulled up in the final furlong and was walked off the track.

Nashoba’s Gold races for Warren Williamson and trainer Carla Gaines, who also campaigned Nashoba’s Key.

Nashoba’s Gold has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $259,380.

“I think she has a big shot to be just as good [as Nashoba’s Key],” Talamo said. “I don’t think she has any distance limitations.”

Nashoba’s Gold beat Diversy Harbor by a length in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf April 5. Those fillies are likely to run in the $350,000 American Oaks, a Grade 1 over 1 1/4 miles on turf here May 31.

The Honeymoon Stakes and American Oaks were previously run at Hollywood Park, which closed last December.