By Alan Carasso
Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) debuted with an educational–if a bit troubled–fourth-place effort behind sales-topping stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and fellow seven-figure seller Change In Command (Into Mischief) going a mile at Aqueduct Nov. 4. Sierre Leone did his part to validate the effort with a near-miss second in the GII Remsen S., while Change of Command has since won twice, including a Jan. 5 allowance at this track, and Tuscan Gold will presumably get his chance to further frank the form after being named a 'TDN Rising Star' himself Wednesday afternoon.
A somewhat surprising 8-5 second choice behind three-start maiden Skip the Line (Into Mischief–Bubbler) at 11-10 and getting Lasix for the first time, Tuscan Gold was toting the Gary Broad/Walmac silks this time around after debuting in the Lawrence colors and was trapped out five deep rounding the first turn while niggled along to keep pace by Tyler Gaffalione. Able to shift in to save some ground midway up the backstretch, the $600,000 Keeneland September grad was soon back into the bridle and was all the way up into third rounding the second bend. Looking a bit one-paced as he tried to get to front-running Skip the Line approaching the stretch, Tuscan Gold was popped the question in earnest and ran away impressively before galloping out with good energy.
Stonestreet bred Tuscan Gold from their very talented Valadorna (Curlin), runner-up to Champagne Room (Broken Vow) in the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and–appropriately enough–third in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at three. A listed winner at the tail end of that season, she posted a career-high in the GIII Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare S. at four in 2018.
A half-sister to former Chad Brown Grade I winner Complexity (Maclean's Music), Valadorna is also represented by a 2-year-old colt by Uncle Mo and a yearling colt by Tapit. Valadorna was not bred in 2023. Tuscan Gold is a 33rd 'Rising Star' for his recently turned 25-year-old stallion.
7th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 1-31, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:46.42, ft, 6 1/4 lengths.
TUSCAN GOLD, c, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Valadorna (GSW & GISP, $670,265), by Curlin
2nd Dam: Goldfield, by Yes It's True
3rd Dam: Folly Dollar, by Digression
Sales history: $600,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $47,100. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-William H Lawrence, Walmac Farm & Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown.
Tuscan Gold wins with authority in the 7th race under @Tyler_Gaff. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/wCmcY6pUJP
— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) January 31, 2024
TUSCAN GOLD 🌟 breaks his maiden in style, cruising to victory @GulfstreamPark! Congratulations to our partners #BredandRaised #StonestreetStables pic.twitter.com/x1zZ5x2RHQ
— Stonestreet (@StonestreetFarm) January 31, 2024
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