Trail of Gold puts it all together with fast-closing win in Statue of Liberty
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trail of Gold rebounded from her sixth-place finish in last month’s Suzie O’Cain Stakes with a more professional effort Wednesday, rallying from last under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series by 1 3/4 lengths at Saratoga.
Though still last early on – as she was in the Suzie O’Cain – Trail of Gold was a few lengths closer to the pace Wednesday than she was in her last start. That, and a little cut in the ground following a brief mid-day shower, may have helped Trail of Gold, who rallied five wide in the stretch to outfinish Nonna Lynn and Hangover Heaven, who were a neck apart for second at the wire. Disco Star, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth, followed by Boston’s Phinest and Blossom Erudite.
“I think that little bit of rain in the turf course helped her,” said Ortiz, who won his second race on the card and meet-leading 42nd. “I think she probably wants to go a mile and a sixteenth. Everything worked out beautifully today. She was a little more in contact with the field today than last time.”
Ortiz said when he got off Trail of Gold after the Suzie O’Cain he told trainer David Donk that Trail of Gold belongs with these New York-bred stakes horses. Donk said while that was nice to hear, he was going to run in this spot regardless.
“I needed to be here, I thought she made a step forward today because she hasn’t been that professional in her races,” Donk said. “I’d like to think she’s putting it together now.”
Trail of Gold, racing in the two-path, was only 4 1/2 lengths off the pace established by Blossoming Erudite, who was stalked by Hangover Heaven. Trail of Gold stayed in the two path before Ortiz swung her out to the five-path in the stretch and she came with a prolonged rally to get the victory.
“She was a little more relaxed in the post parade and that helped and obviously the first turn, I was in contact with the field, then she kept digging in,” Ortiz said.
Trail of Gold, a 3-year-old daughter of Solomini, owned by Donk, his father Gerald Donk, John Behrendt, Charles Marquis, and William Punk, covered the mile in 1:36.66 over turf labeled firm and returned $14.40 to win.
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