7th-Saratoga, $110,000, Alw, 6-7, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.08, ft, 2 lengths.
MUNNYS GOLD (f, 4, Munnings–Haraawa, by Medaglia d'Oro), making her 4-year-old debut and her first start since finishing third in last year's GI Test S. at this venue last August, flaunted her considerable speed en route to a facile, pillar-to-post victory as the prohibitive 3-4 favorite. Immediately in front for Irad Ortiz, Jr., whose status for Friday's card was up in the air owing to a Thursday ankle injury, the Florida-bred took her rivals along through quick splits, covering the opening half-mile in a snappy :44.32 while maintaining a safe advantage. Asked to kick in upper stretch, she opened a bit more daylight into the final furlong and was punched out to score by about two lengths over the immaculately bred Roswell (Into Mischief x Acoma). It was the third win on the day for Ortiz, Jr. Winner of her first three career starts by a combined 38 lengths, Munnys Gold tasted defeat for the first time when beaten a head into second by Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance) in last year's GII Eight Belles S. She was a pacesetting, but distance-challenged fourth as the somewhat surprising favorite in the GI Acorn S. downstate ahead of her effort in the Test, where she was beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Hailing from the deeper female family of champion Anees (Unbridled), Munnys Gold has a 2-year-old half-sister named Frosted Gold (Frosted), a yearling half-brother He's a Nickelback (Game Winner). The current foal from the dam, a colt, has already been named My Habibi. Munnys Gold's victory comes nearly 15 years to the day of her sire's score in the Woody Stephens S., then a Grade II. Sales history: $92,000 Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $300,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: SW &GISP, 7-4-1-1, $375,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Robert E & Lawana L Low; B-Nicksar Farms (FL); T-Todd A Pletcher.
A victorious return for 'TDN Rising Star' MUNNYS GOLD (Munnings) at the Spa! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/OOtpVhOeCb
— TDN (@theTDN) June 7, 2024
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
