Golden Pal began his 3-year-old season on opening day at Saratoga Race Course just how he ended his 2-year-old year in 2020—with a commanding front-running victory.
Racing in the $120,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3T) over 5 1/2 furlongs July 15, Golden Pal took charge early, as is his custom, setting splits of :21.92 and :44.88, opened up in midstretch, and cruised across the finish line three lengths on top. Under confident handling from Irad Ortiz Jr., Golden Pal outlasted a rallying Omaha City, stopping the clock in 1:02.99 over a course rated good.
"He's a nice horse. I'm happy he came back where he left off," Ortiz said. "He broke really nice for me. When I asked him, he responded really well. I didn't want to ask too early. I didn't want him to do too much, he's been off for a long time."
Ortiz won his second Quick Call, having previously ridden World of Trouble to victory in the race in 2018.
Jaxon Traveler, who chased Golden Pal early, faded to third, a half-length behind the runner-up, but 6 1/4 lengths clear of fourth-place Rebel Posse. Second of July and Kentucky Pharoah rounded out the six-horse field.
Thursday's race from Golden Pal marked his first start since he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) in November at Keeneland, and also was his first for new ownership. The Coolmore-affiliated Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg bought him this summer from breeder Randall Lowe, who raced him as a juvenile in the name of Ranlo Investments.
"He's so extremely talented and quick," said Wesley Ward, who has trained him for all five of his races. "He's a big horse and he moves like a cat, and that's where he really has an advantage. I was a little concerned going into the race that I didn't have a gate work into him, but he's so smart that he overcame that in the first jump. When they said 'go,' he was gone."
On the strength of his form from last season, in which Golden Pal also won the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga and placed in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, he paid just $2.40 to win as the odds-on favorite.
A son of Uncle Mo, Golden Pal is the first foal out of 11-time stakes winner Lady Shipman (Midshipman ), who Lowe also raced. Lady Shipman was also second in the 2015 TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T)—a race that is a year-end objective for Golden Pal in 2021.
This year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is five furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 6.
"The bigger races are here in the next months and heading into the fall and then the Breeders' Cup, so this is when you want to see them do this," Ward said after Thursday's victory.
Lady Shipman foaled an Omaha Beach colt this year, already named Lieutenant General, and was bred back to Uncle Mo, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Offered once at public auction, Golden Pal fell short of his reserve when bidding stalled at $325,000 at Keeneland during its 2019 September Yearling Sale as part of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
He had been scheduled to resume racing this spring but had his return delayed by an ankle chip that required surgery.
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