Golden Pal Bought by Coolmore Associates

A Coolmore spokesperson confirmed June 23 that associates Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith have purchased Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) winner Golden Pal .

Owner/breeder Randall Lowe said seven entities had been bidding on the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo  , but he said he chose Coolmore because it had the strongest potential to later develop Golden Pal's future as a stallion.

"I've believed in this horse from day one, and it's hard selling him. Getting a champion is everyone's dream and when you get one, you want to hold onto him as long as you can," Lowe said. "But I believe he going to win another Breeders' Cup … and Coolmore is the best one to further his next career."

Lowe said he did retain two lifetime breeding rights to Golden Pal in the deal initially reported by Thoroughbred Daily News. The purchase price of the colt was not disclosed.

Golden Pal is the first foal out of graded stakes winner Lady Shipman  (by Midshipman  ), who was also bred and raced by Lowe. Lady Shipman is an 11-time stakes winner who won the 2016 Royal North Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine and was second in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). The mare has a weanling colt by Omaha Beach   named Lieutenant General and was bred back to Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo this year.

Lowe offered Golden Pal at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and bought him back on a final bid of $325,000. At the time, Coolmore expressed interest in the colt but a deal didn't materialize, according to Lowe. Golden Pal was eventually sent to trainer Wesley Ward. The colt finished second in his debut in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, and then sent to Royal Ascot to contest the Norfolk Stakes (G2), where he set the pace and lost by a neck to The Lir Jet .

Lowe brought Golden Pal back to the States and the colt won the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga Race Course before delivering Lowe's first Breeders' Cup win in gate-to-wire fashion at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length over Cowan .

Golden Pal has not raced since the Breeders' Cup due to a chip discovered in a front ankle that was removed. He is expected to make his 2021 debut in the 5 1/2-furlong $120,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) on opening day at Saratoga, according to Ward. The race will be his tune-up for an anticipated start in the five-furlong Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) Aug. 20 at York Racecourse, which is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. A return to the Breeders' Cup is the bull's eye on the target.

The colt is currently stabled with Ward at Churchill Downs where he returned to the work tab June 6 with a four-furlong breeze in :50 2/5. He worked next June 13 going four furlongs in a bullet :47 2/5. He most recently worked five furlongs June 20 in 1:02 1/5. All his works have been on the turf.