Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
GULFSTREAM Combo ends their frustration
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Stanley Gold will be the first to tell you racing is a game of cycles. And right now, nobody at Gulfstream Park is in a better cycle than Gold, his principal client Arindel Farm, and their go-to rider Jeffrey Sanchez.
The trio combined to win four races over the past weekend, including Sunday’s main event with Asterisk, who drew off to an easy victory over the 7-5 favorite Ruler of the Nile in the entry-level optional-claiming event.
Gold suffered through a frustrating Championship meeting this past winter, winning just four races while finishing second in 16. But with many of those seconds turning into wins down the road, and an influx of talented babies from the deep Arindel pool of 2-year-olds, Gold has turned things around this spring with 13 victories from 48 starters. He has the prospect of many more to come during the upcoming summer session, which begins July 1.
“Obviously it gets frustrating when you finish second so many times like we did this winter,” Gold said. “But when you sit back and think about what you’re running against and who is beating you in these races, you kind of realize that’s just the way it is and [you] have to try to be happy with that.”
Gold also realized he had to be patient with all the Brethren offspring he began dealing with for the first time last summer and again this season, with approximately 20 of the 30 or so horses he has in the barn having been sired by the second-year stallion.
“Brethren didn’t break his maiden until he ran a mile and was always better the farther he went,” Gold said. “And for the most part, his offspring aren’t blessed with speed, although we’re starting to see some who are this year, which is dependent in a large part upon the mares. We’ve already had a few hitting it pretty good now going short, although I still think they’ll be even more comfortable when they start to stretch out even farther. And we’ve got several more good ones still in the wings. So I’m optimistic about having a lot to look forward to here this summer.”
Two promising 3-yearolds by Brethren, Weisser and Awesome Mass, turned in impressive efforts capturing their first-level allowance conditions over the weekend. Weisser was an easy winner for the second time in as many starts since returning from a 4 1/2-month layoff here last month, while Awesome Mass posted a five-length triumph Saturday in her first outing since finishing third in the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes in September.
“We had to remove chips from both knees on Awesome Mass last fall, but what we saw her do the other day, that’s the kind of horse we thought she was right from the outset,” Gold said.
Gold has nominated both Weisser and Awesome Mass to Summit of Speed races on June 30, the former to the Carry Back, the latter for the Azalea, but doubts he’ll run either on such short rest.
“I nominated them because the races are there and they’d probably have decent shots,” Gold explained. “But it’s just not a good idea bringing them back that quick with both coming back recently off layoffs like that.”
Gold will have a chance to build on his recent success when racing resumes Thursday, with the Arindel homebred Weekend Mischief likely a key player in the eighth race and Onebrethatatime set to make her turf debut in the ninth. Both races are for statebreds and each has a purse of $40,000.
“Weekend Mischief is sitting on a win,” Gold said. “She’s run against some real quality horses all year on turf and dirt. We haven’t been able to get the right race to go for her on the main track, but this one, going a mile, should suit her well.”
Gold also reported that Blonde Bomber, third-place finisher behind Caledonia Road in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, remains on the farm with her future uncertain.
“Right now she’s getting fat eating grass, which is what she needed because she just seemed to lose weight on us during the winter,” said Gold said. “She left here 100 percent sound, she just needed time to grow. At the moment I don’t know what the plans are for her the second half of the season.”
As has been the case for Gold, the spring meet has been a rebirth of sorts for Sanchez, who has won with 17 of 60 mounts, a 28 percent success rate. Sanchez has returned to the saddle after nearly a twoyear hiatus due to weight problems.
“Jeffrey was up to 158 1/2 pounds at one point when he decided to make a comeback,” Gold said. “I told him if he made it back riding, he’s got first call on everything in my barn, and to his credit he did the work, and anyone who knows what they’re looking at can see he’s a real quality rider and riding as good now as he ever has.”