Medaglia d’Oro, whose best performers last year included Rachel Alexandra and Gabby’s Golden Gal, did not have long to wait for his first black type winner of the new year.
Three-year-old colt Laus Deo handled the two-turn mile at Aqueduct in style to run home the three-quarter length winner of the Listed Count Fleet Stakes on just his fourth racetrack appearance. His career record now stands at two wins and a second.
Bred by J S McDonald, Laus Deo is out of the Stakes-winning Alysheba mare Shebane and was a $140,000 Keeneland September yearling.
Also on Saturday’s scoresheet was Cherokee Run six-year-old Cherokee Heaven, who won the Listed Impressive Luck Handicap at Santa Anita for his fourth career victory. The three-quarter brother to Frisco View was bred by Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds from Irish Stakes winner Heaven’s Nook, by Great Above.
