NEWS
Golden Yank powers to Zia Park Derby romp
Posted: Saturday, December 06, 2008 7:32 PM
by Mike Curry
Golden Yank split horses leaving the turn and poured it on in the stretch of the $158,730 Zia Park Derby on Saturday as he powered to a 6 3/4-length romp.
The Yankee Gentleman gelding was sent off as the overwhelming 1-to-2 favorite off a 1 3/4-length victory in the Oklahoma Derby on October 19 at Retama Park, and Golden Yank left no doubt who was the best horse in the Zia Park Derby.
He tracked the pace from near the back of the eight-horse field under Jamie Theriot as Red Sky Dubai opened a clear lead through a solid opening quarter in :23.20 and a half-mile in :47.60.
Golden Yank surged into contention with a strong move from between horses on the turn, inhaled runner-up Por Que in a few powerful strides, and accelerated to a commanding lead.
“Red Sky Dubai was the only speed in the race and he hadn’t shown he wanted two turns,” Theriot said. “I decided to just ride my horse and if he [Red Sky Dubai] comes back, he comes back. I had the best horse and rode him like he was the best horse.”
Golden Yank completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 on a track rated as fast.
Por Que spurted to the lead on the turn but was no match for the winner. He held off third-place finisher Numismatist by a neck for second.
Trained by Gary Thomas for the Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust, Golden Yank improved to five wins in 13 career starts and boosted his bankroll to $688,616.
Golden Yank was on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) trail earlier this season, but his connections shifted gears after a fourth-place finish in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and a seventh-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G2).
Golden Yank finished seventh in the Lone Star Derby (G3) on May 10 and second in a pair of stakes on turf, including a runner-up finish in the Jefferson Cup Stakes (G2) on June 14 at Churchill Downs. He subsequently finished third in the Super Derby Prelude Stakes on August 16 and fourth on September 20 in the Super Derby (G2), both at Louisiana Downs, before regaining his winning stride in the Oklahoma Derby.
Kentucky-bred Golden Yank is out of the winning Strike the Gold mare Golden Charm, a half sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Turn and Dance.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
