Majestic Eagle rallied from just off the pace to capture the $60,000 Walter R. Cluer Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise Jan. 14.
It was the first start of the year for the hard-knocking gelding by Medaglia d’Oro, and he has now finished in the money in 15 of his 34 career starts.
A field of nine entered the starting gate for the 7.5-furlong turf contest, and it was the favorite, Tiger Dad, which shot to the front immediately. Majestic Eagle was settled into third, content to track the pacemakers while saving ground along the inside rail. Majestic Eagle was angled out three-wide on the far turn and quickly moved up to challenge Tiger Dad for the lead. After putting that rival away, Majestic Eagle drew off through the stretch, eventually crossing the wire to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
Majestic Eagle was bred in Kentucky by B. Flay Thoroughbreds. He is out of the winning Tapit mare, Double Tapped, a full sister to Champion Untappable and a half to G1 winner, Paddy O’Prado. In addition to Majestic Eagle, Double Tapped has also produced Double Medal, his Stakes-placed full sister.
Medaglia d’Oro was represented by 20 Stakes winners in 2021. Topping that list is the outstanding Golden Sixty, the two-time Horse of the Year in Hong Kong and recent winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the second straight year. Other Graded Stakes winners last year include Dream Lith (G2 Golden Rod), Rockefeller (G3 Nashua), Navratilova (G3 Valley View), Vigilantes Way (G3 Eatontown), and G2 Shannon Stakes hero Yonkers (in Australia).
Medaglia d'Oro will stand the 2022 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for a fee of $100,000, stands and nurses.
