Ari Gold took the lead right out of the starting gate and never looked back on his way to cruising to a two-and-a-half length victory in the Listed Pulpit Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, 10 December.
The victory, which was his first Stakes win, improved the two-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt’s record to two wins in four starts.
Making his first start at Gulfstream Park, Ari Gold broke sharply under jockey Luis Saez and went immediately to the lead. The dark bay colt began to increase his lead as the field entered the backstretch, all while cruising at an easy pace. Ari Gold continued to hold sway in the stretch, eventually crossing the wire an easy winner. Lights of Broadway closed belatedly to take second, with Congruent getting up for third.
Bred in Kentucky by Bass Stables, Ari Gold is out of Satirical, a winning daughter of Distorted Humor. In addition to Ari Gold, Satirical has also produced the Stakes-placed gelding, Petruchio. Satirical herself is a full sister to Multiple Graded Stakes winner and G1-placed, Matrooh (G3 Bold Ruler H., G3 Hanshin Cup, 3rd G1 Cigar Mile) and a half sister to Multiple Graded Stakes winner Rule (G2 Monmouth Cup, G3 Sam F. Davis S.). The female family has also produced G1 Kentucky Derby winner and Champion 3-year-old, Funny Cide.
Medaglia d’Oro continues to produce runners at the highest level and is the sire of 22 Graded Stakes horses in 2022. Only Into Mischief has sired more this year. In addition to Ari Gold, Medaglia d’Oro is also represented by Champion and Multiple G1 winner Golden Sixty, and Graded Stakes winners Nostalgic (G3), Prevalence (G3), Yonkers (in Aust.), Vigilantes Way and Pennybaker.
Medaglia d’Oro will stand the 2023 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for $100,000, stands and nurses.
