Update on Golden Frontier

   A brief update on Golden Frontier.  He worked five furlongs at Keeneland on Sunday in 59 seconds flat.  Based on that work, he is entered in an allowance race on Sunday April 22nd in Keeneland's 4th race.  This will be his first race against winners, and he will be in the gate next to one of my favorite names -- Mr. Fuzzybottom.  Fuzzybottom is wheeling back after wiring a starter allowance race at Keeneland on April 11th.  If Golden can avoid a speed duel with Mr. Fuzzybottom in the first quarter, then he should be there at the end.  I just hope the track is playing favorable to speed on Sunday.
    If you will be out at Keeneland on Sunday please let me know via a comment or on twitter.  I would be happy to meet anyone out there. 

 

Golden in the Keeneland paddock before his work on Sunday. 

Breaking a Maiden

 
   A horse won a race.  That is about as basic as it gets.  Look a little closer and you see that he broke his maiden in his second start in a six furlong sprint at Oaklawn Park.  Look even closer and you notice that he won by six lengths, that the second place horse cost $340,000 as a yearling, and that he posted one of the quickest six furlong time at Oaklawn this meet.  After the race you see that his performance was given a 96 Beyer Speed Figure and a 100 BRIS Speed Figure.  After analyzing all of this information, you might conclude that this is a serious race horse (and you would be right).  You might also assume that he was purchased as a yearling based on his looks or pedigree or that he dazzled buyers with his workout at a two year old in training sale.  Here, you are wrong– the winner’s name is Golden Frontier and my friend is the owner.  He was sired by Canadian Frontier who has since been sent to Louisiana, he was Hip Number 5184 of 5709 in the 2008 Keeneland November sale, he was the second foal out of his dam, and was purchased for $1,300 as a weanling to keep another weanling company.
     Since he was one-half of my friend’s two horse stable, I watched Golden Frontier’s win with the owner and am excited about his future as a race horse.  However, looking at Golden Frontier’s pedigree and sales history and the pedigree and sales history of some other horses in his race provides an interesting window into the sport.  Spin Zone, the post time favorite and distant second place finisher, was purchased by Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farm as a yearling for $340,000.  Spin Zone is by popular stallion Candy Ride (Arg) out of Harve de Grace.  Thus, Spin Zone is a half brother to stakes winner and current stallion Concord Point.  However, Spin Zone’s pedigree and connections pale in comparison to the 6^th place finisher, Turnofthecat.  

     Turnofthecat is by Storm Cat out of Turko’s Turn, which makes him a half brother to classic winner Point Given.  Turnofthecat did not reach his reserve as a yearling at the 2009 Keeneland September sale at $475,000, and despite failing to break his maiden in three starts as a three year old, Turnofthecat sold for $140,000 at the 2012 Keeneland January sale.  This stellar pedigree and the training experience of multiple Triple Crown winner, D. Wayne Lukas did not make up the 19 lengths between Turnofthecat in 6^th and Golden Frontier in 1^st. 

     It also proves that no matter how much black type is in the pedigree, how expensive the sale price, and how experienced the agent and trainer are that a good horse can come from anywhere.  This fundamental principle is what racing should continue to emphasize today because it is true today as it was in the 19^th century.  Despite the bad press, breakdowns, and everything else, horse racing rests on two fundamental principles – the outcome of a race determines the best horse and despite the vast sums of money spent on breeding, training, and predicting, a good horse can come from anywhere and be owned by anybody.  As for Golden, he has become quite popular since his eye catching win at Oaklawn and several bloodstock agents have been by to make substantial offers on a horse they could have bought a few years ago for $2,000.

Golden Frontier in his stall at Keeneland.