By Steve Sherack
Golden Gamble (f, 2, Laoban–Me and Mine, by Bernardini) stamped herself as a filly to watch for trainer Ken McPeek with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance at second asking traveling around two turns in the Churchill nightcap Saturday.
The 5-2 chance found a perfect spot beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr. in an outside fourth through fractions of :23.60 and :48.17. Traveling nicely rounding the far turn, she made a flashy, three-wide move to stick her head in front approaching the quarter pole, and, despite racing a bit green as they straightened, opened daylight to win with ease by nine impressive lengths. Heavily favored Girl Math (McKinzie) was second.
Golden Gamble, a very solid closing third on debut over the same track and trip Oct. 27, becomes the first 'Rising Star' for the gone-too-soon Laoban. Golden Gamble was the second-most expensive of 36 yearlings by Laoban to change hands in 2023, bringing $200,000 from McPeek on behalf of owners Fern Circle Stables and Cypress Creek Equine at the Keeneland September sale.
The winner's dam Me and Mine, a maiden of three career starts, produced a filly by City of Light in 2023 and a filly by Street Sense this year, who brought $250,000 from Fastrac at the recently concluded Keeneland November sale. Me and Mine was bred back to Nyquist.
Me and Mine brought $80,000 from Baccari Bloodstock with Golden Gamble in utero at the 2021 KEENOV sale. This is the extended female family of Grade/Group 1 winners Hold That Tiger and Editor's Note.
11th-Churchill Downs, $120,000, Msw, 11-23, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.17, ft, 9 lengths.
GOLDEN GAMBLE, f, 2, by Laoban
1st Dam: Me and Mine, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Oneofacat, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Beware of the Cat, by Caveat
Sales history: $80,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $81,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Fern Circle Stables & Cypress Creek Equine; B-Tuscany Bloodstock (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
#7 GOLDEN GAMBLE ($7.10) romps in the finale at @ChurchillDowns. @b_hernandezjr piloted the juvenile Laoban filly to this impressive maiden victory for trainer @McPeekRacing. pic.twitter.com/vTriMRt32G
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 23, 2024
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