Golden Pal Sparkles in Woodford Stakes
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Golden Pal wins the Woodford Stakes at Keeneland
Golden Pal justified his private purchase earlier this year by the Coolmore connections with an impressive victory at Keeneland in the $200,000 Woodford Stakes Presented by TVG (G2T) Oct. 9. It may set him up nicely to parlay his win last year in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) to this year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
Though Europeans often dominate turf events in the Breeders' Cup, Golden Pal may blunt that somewhat, given that trainer Wesley Ward has twice taken him to England to race. The colt's best effort there was a second in last year's five-furlong Norfolk Stakes (G2).
The 5 1/2-furlong Woodford attracted a field of seven, with a little international flavor of its own. Inhalation had done most of his racing in his native Great Britain, while Extravagant Kid went from the Midwest to Dubai and then England prior to returning to Keeneland.
But Golden Pal's record prompted the most play, the 3-year-old colt going off as the 1-2 favorite with John Velazquez riding him for the first time.
On a turf course labeled good, Golden Pal and Firecrow broke quickest and went to the front. Golden Pal outran Firecrow down the backstretch, sporting about a length lead and getting the first quarter-mile in :21.51.
Into the turn, jockey Tyler Gaffalione urged Firecrow to draw even with Golden Pal near the three-sixteenths pole. Those two runners matched strides to the top of the lane. When longshot Johnny Unleashed began to inch forward on the rail, it looked for a moment as if the favorite might crack.
But Velazquez asked Golden Pal for a response, and the son of Uncle Mo answered by pulling away from Firecrow and Johnny Unleashed. Golden Pal put enough distance on the field that Extravagant Kid 's closing drive could make no headway. Golden Pal won by 2 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:03.12, with Extravagant Kid getting second by a half-length over County Final in third.
Brendan Walsh, trainer of DARRS' Extravagant Kid, indicated after the race his runner could also return in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, though he wants to consult with the sprinter's owner before committing.
John Velazquez rode Golden Pal for the first time in the Woodford Stakes
Velazquez said that he benefited from a tip given to him by Julio Garcia, an exercise rider and jockey for Ward.
"Just put your hands down and he'll run for you; even if he gets passed he'll run for you," Garcia told Velazquez.
The Hall of Fame rider took Garcia's advice, explaining that at first, "I left him alone, and when the other horse came to him and put the head in front, I was like, 'Hey, we got to come back and run.' I got after him, and he gradually got away from the other horse. It took me two or three jumps to engage him back into the race, and after that he was pretty good."
Golden Pal was making his third start for owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg. Ward has trained him throughout his career. Golden Pal won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for Randall Lowe, who bred him in Florida from the Midshipman mare Lady Shipman .
Lowe named Golden Pal for his mentor, the late John C. Mabee, who with his wife, Betty, raced in the name of Golden Eagle Farm. One of Golden Eagle's top runners was multi-millionaire California-bred Best Pal.
Lowe also bred and raced Lady Shipman, winner of the 2016 Royal North Stakes (G3T) and 10 other stakes and an earner of $902,387. Golden Pal was the first foal out of Lady Shipman, who delivered her second foal this year, an Omaha Beach colt named Lieutenant General . The mare was reported bred back to Uncle Mo .
In taking the Woodford, Golden Pal won his fourth race in seven starts and increased his earnings to $779,056. In addition to the Breeders' Cup race, he won the 2020 Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Following the purchase in June, he added the July 15 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga.
Not only does Golden Pal have Breeders' Cup experience, he has a running style that may suit Del Mar, the site of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 5-6. Early speed held up well in five-furlong turf races there during this past summer meeting.