Spirit of St Louis bounced back from a rare off-the-board finish in the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile to win the $200,000 Mohawk Stakes by just over a length at Belmont at the Big A on Sunday, 27 October.
The five-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro, who also won the Mohawk in 2023, has won four Stakes races this year and improved his record to nine wins from 13 starts. Overall, the gelding is now a six-time Stakes winner.
Spirit of St Louis broke alertly and raced in fifth position down the backside while longshot Ruse set a modest pace of 50.31 for the half and 1:14.07 for six furlongs. Jockey Manny Franco rallied Spirit of St Louis wide while turning for home, then he was kept wide – out in the center of the turf course – by City Man, who was under a drive from jockey Joel Rosario.
Spirit of St Louis needed to draw on his class as he furiously rallied in deep stretch to overhaul City Man to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths. It was another length back to Jerry the Nipper, as the top three finishers repeated the same order as the 2023 edition of the race.
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).
Spirit of St Louis was one of two Stakes winners for Medaglia d’Oro on the afternoon, joining the promising two-year-old, Good Cheer, who captured the Listed Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs. The stallion is also the sire of East Avenue, recent winner of the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and a leading contender for the upcoming G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Medaglia d’Oro will stand the 2025 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $75,000, stands and nurses.
