Gold for the King Runaway Winner of NYSS at Aqueduct

Francis Paolangeli's homebred Gold for the King left his mark on the field of the $125,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes, Thunder Rumble Division, Nov. 18 at Aqueduct Racetrack, running away to a 9 1/4-length score under jockey Joel Rosario.

A field of five older horses lined up for the seven-furlong contest, but none proved to be competition for the 4-year-old son of Posse who raced well within himself as Rosario sat motionless throughout the ride.

After an even break, Gold for the King settled behind Loki's Vengeance and Tribecca, who took the field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.06 and a half in :46.07. 

At the top of the turn for home, Gold for the King moved to the lead in the matter of a few strides. Once clear, the Charlton Baker trainee had no intention of slowing down and finished the distance in 1:24.25 under a hand ride.

"It was a good trip," Rosario said. "He broke well, and it looked like a couple of them were trying to challenge for the lead a little bit. I just wanted to be in a stalking position, where I was, and then I took control in the turn. Before turning for home, he just took the lead by himself. He was just the best horse in the race."

Now a five-time stakes winner, Gold for the King was coming into Sunday's race off a runner-up finish to Runaway Lute in the Oct. 20 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park, where he missed by three-quarters of a length. Before that effort, he had not raced since the July 26 John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, where he was fourth.

"He did it comfortably, which I think he was supposed to do. He pretty much had this field over a barrel," Baker said. "We thought if he was OK for this, and if he was healthy, he would win. Thankfully, it worked out. He's always dependable and gives an 'A' effort.

"He needed this race to get back into the swing of things. After his defeat in the Hudson, we wanted to get his confidence back. He's always dependable."

Gold for the King is the only stakes winner for his dam, the Gold Token mare Gold for the Queen, from three foals to race. He improved his record to 7-4-2 from 18 starts.