Golden Ray First Winner for American Lion
Description:
Darby Dan Farm stallion American Lion was represented by his first winner May 22 when first-time starter Golden Ray won a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park .
Golden Ray, out of the stakes-placed Woodman mare Nault, races for Golden Legacy Stable and is trained by Juan Rodriguez. Golden Ray was bred in Kentucky by Crowning Point Farm.
Breaking from post 6, Golden Ray went right to the front and zipped an opening quarter-mile in :22.66. He hit the line ahead by 2 1/2 lengths in :53.10 under Eddie Castro.
American Lion (Tiznow —Storm Tide, by Storm Cat) stands at Darby Dan for $5,000. He won three of nine starts for Casner Racing. He won the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) at 2 in 2009 and at 3 won the nine-furlong Illinois Derby (gr. III) and ran in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). He earned $417,800.
Golden Ray was a $12,000 Keeneland November sale weanling, selling to Ricardo Ascensio from Crowning Point Farm, agent. He sold to Team Work Horseman Group for $12,000 as a yearling at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August sale in 2014 from the Summerfield, agent, consignment.
Nault is a half sister to the dam of grade I-placed Stellaris.