A change in surface didn’t matter to Spirit of St Louis has he galloped home an easy five-and-three-quarter length winner in the $125,000 Kingston Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga on Sunday, 9 June.
The 8.5-furlong contest, which was originally scheduled for the turf, was run over a muddy main track after heavy overnight rains. The surface switch made no difference for Spirit of St Louis, as the five-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding took command on the far turn, then drew off in the stretch to win easily over Disarmed, with Maker’s Candy getting third.
Bred in New York by Chester and Mary R. Broman, Spirit of St Louis is out of the Graded Stakes-winning mare, Khancord Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), and is a full brother to millionaire Bar of Gold, winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Bar of Gold has become a Stakes producer herself, as she is the dam of Graded Stakes winner and multiple Stakes-placed Coinage (G3 With Anticipation Stakes).
In addition to Spirit of St Louis, Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of Delahaye, recent winner of the G3 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs. The stallion is also represented this year by Nash, winner of Hot Spring Stakes and Kallos, winner of the G2 Rubiton Stakes in Australia.
