Gold Standard Racing Stable Returns to Winner’s Circle

Watching their talented 3-year-old Hoosier Philly  trackside at Ellis Park June 17 was Bill and Mary Stone along with Rod Ratcliff and his partner Denise Murray, all of whom make up Gold Standard Racing Stable which campaigns the talented Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes victress.

For the Stones, who live nearby to the Henderson, Ky. oval, it was their first trip back in many years and was quite a memorable one at that.

"It's exciting for all of us. My wife Mary and I both grew up in Evansville, Indiana, so we were only a few miles away from Ellis Park and we've both been going to Ellis for 50-60 years so it's kind of nice to be back," Bill Stone said. "We hadn't been back in a long, long time. That was fun and obviously she ran well and seems to be regaining her 2-year-old form and we have high hopes."

Such a great day for @stable_gold pic.twitter.com/gs2vEBVSEZ

— HoosierPhillyOfficial (@hoosier_philly1) June 18, 2023

The daughter of Into Mischief   went 3-for-3 during her juvenile season but had not been able to repeat that success this year. After her second start this year in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), veterinarians detected blockage in her throat during a post-race scope. She underwent a myectomy, which is a common surgical procedure designed for horses who displace their soft palate when running which limits airflow.

Her first start back since the surgery was a runner-up finish behind Taxed  in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course last month.

"After the Black-Eyed Susan, we were more comfortable letting people know she had some issues. We really didn't want to influence bettors one way or another and say, 'Hey she had a problem, we fixed it, and now she's going to be back to 100%.' We're really not sure until after she races," Murray said. "We were proud of her in the Black-Eyed Susan.

"We took a little bit of a step back in distance because that's what fit into the schedule nicely in Tom's (trainer Amoss) eyes. We're ready to fire back up after that race. She was pretty impressive yesterday."

Murray said Amoss and jockey Edgar Morales went into Saturday's race with a plan, and it played out almost exactly as they had hoped as the filly rolled home easily in gate-to-wire fashion under a hand ride.

"Tom and Edgar had said they wanted to get out in front, not push the pace, and kind of settle in," she said. "If she needed to, then she'd fire at the end. It was kind of a slow pace but the last part of the race was pretty swift. ... Edgar after the race said, 'I didn't do anything, she just did her thing. She's back to what I remember.' He was pretty excited too."

Next up, the filly will head to Saratoga Race Course and though the connections have yet to pick a specific target, they will likely opt to jump back into graded company. Longer-term goals would be a trip to the World Championships in November. 

"We have a lot of faith in Tom, a lot of faith in Edgar, we have a good team and so we're excited to see the next chapter," Stone said. "How good is she, can we do well at Saratoga, can we make it to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, and really close out her 3-year-old season in style. Then hopefully (we'll) decide where to (go with) her as a 4-year-old. ... Those decisions are still up in the air."

Along with Hoosier Philly, Gold Standard Racing Stable has three other horses in training with Amoss including a 2-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo   named Ba Dee Yah who is currently based at Keeneland and is also pointed toward a start at the Spa later this year.

"She's looking pretty good, she's a half sister to (grade 1 winner) Gretzky the Great. The exercise rider said she's real smart but don't tell Hoosier that," Murray said.

With their star filly seemingly back on track for an exciting remainder of her 3-year-old season as well as several other up-and-coming horses, the partnership is simply taking it all in and having fun.

"We're all new to this as far as having a nice filly," Murray said. "We all go up to the farm and visit her and it's very exciting to us. ... We're pretty conservative when it comes to (racing). I know they're racehorses and everything but to us they're like family."