Inherit the Gold stretched his winning streak
to four Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, taking command at the top of
the stretch and drawing off to a two-length victory over favored Yawanna Twist
in the $65,000 Kings Point.
Carrying Eddie Castro and high weight of 124 pounds, Inherit the Gold
broke alertly, then settled in third as Spa City Fever led the field of New
York-breds through an opening half-mile in 49.02. Closing the gap approaching
the turn, the 5-year-old gray gelding swung three-wide to take the lead and galloped
home in 1:50.99 for the 1 1/8 miles.
“I put him behind the speed, and he knew when it was time to
move,” said Castro. “He’s a nice, professional horse.”
Owned by Glas-Tipp Stable and Susanne Hooper and trained by Jim Hooper,
Inherit the Gold launched his Big A winning streak on December 16 when he took
a one-mile optional claimer for statebreds. Victorious in an optional claimer against
open company on January 13, Inherit the Gold then made his first stakes start a
winning one with a three-length score in the Mr. International overnight stakes
for state-breds on January 26.
“He’s just a nice, nice horse,” said Hooper, who bred
Inherit the Gold with his wife, Susanne, and Edmond and Mary Murray. “I wanted him
to move today whenever Eddie Castro wanted him to move. The six pounds had me
worried, but he carries his 160-pound exercise rider around the middle of the track
every morning.”
Sent off as the 8-5 second choice by the crowd of 6,271, Inherit the
Gold returned $5.40 as he ran his record to 6-3-2 from 13 starts. With the
winner’s purse of $39,000, the Gold Token gelding has now earned
$228,601.
Yawanna Twist, the 4-5 favorite, was 2 ¾ lengths clear of Spa City
Fever, who in turn was followed by Mine Over Matter and Stud Muffin. Thunder
Chief was scratched.
Hooper said Inherit the Gold would likely step into graded stakes
company next month.
“Obviously, we’re looking at the Excelsior [Grade 3, 1 1/8
miles, Aqueduct, April 2],” he said. “But we’ll look at the
million-dollar race in West Virginia
[Grade 3 Charles Town Classic, 1 1/8 miles, April 16] also.”