When the Pimlico Special came up tough, the $200,000 Mountainview Handicap at Penn National became a popular landing spot for entrants scratched from the Pimlico Special. Both Kid Cruz and Albano were scratched from the Pimlico Special in favor of this spot, but in the end, the Mountainview Handicap came up just as tough. Looking for an easier spot did not work out for either Kid Cruz or Albano as Golden Lad brought his A+ game and put on a show.
Breaking from Post 8 with Javier Castellano in the irons, Golden Lad broke sharply and immediately moved inward to grab a nice, ground-saving rail spot. He then settled into second, just to the inside of longshot Very Lucky. Albano and East Hall followed in behind those two with the rest of the field strung out behind them.
Racing on nearly even terms, Very Lucky and Golden Lad clicked off strong fractions of :23.13, :47.05 and 1:11.44. As the duo rounded the far turn and hit the top of the stretch, Very Lucky valiantly tried to keep things interesting, but Golden Lad shook off that foe and opened up on the field. With the win never in doubt in the stretch, it became a race for the minor placings as Golden Lad continued to pull away from his rivals. At the wire, Golden Lad was a comfortable 5 lengths ahead of the runner-up and stopped the clock for the 1 1/8 mile race in 1:49.95.
Kid Cruz, who did not have the best of beginnings, circled the field and closed from dead last after having spotted the leaders more than a dozen lengths to get up for second. Nowalking came through on the inside to take over third, and pace-setting Very Lucky hung on to save fourth.
East Hall faded slightly to finish fifth and was followed in order by Edge of Reality, Albano, Farhaan, Street Babe, Cousin Stephen and Golden Glint.
Winning rider Javier Castellano had been concerned about his trip aboard Golden Lad but acknowledged that everything ended up working out in their favor. "I was concerned a little bit with the horse right next to me tightening me all the way in the race. But my horse did so well today. He didn’t mind another horse right next to him. To be honest, I didn’t expect to be on the lead, but he broke so well at the gate," Castellano explained. "I used my own judgment and took it from there. I didn’t want to get into a duel because it’s a mile and an eighth. It’s not a short race. But, fortunately, the horse ran so well. The way he traveled today, he traveled so good. He just felt like he wanted to go, and when I asked he responded. I could feel the acceleration. He reacted nice and smooth and picked it up very well."
[Bet the Belmont - Get a $150 Bonus!]
As the 9-5 favorite, Golden Lad paid $5.80/$3.60/$3.40. Kid Cruz, off 6-1 odds, returned $5.00/$3.80. Fifteen-to-one longshot Nowalking returned $7.60 for the show. The $2 exacta paid $39.00, the $0.50 trifecta returned $81.90 and the $0.10 superfecta was worth $203.94.
By Medaglia d’Oro and out of the Seeking the Gold mare Broadway Gold, Golden Lad is a homebred for E. Paul Robsham Stables and is trained by Todd Pletcher. The 5-year old bay is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner and grade 1 placed R Gypsy Gold and multiple graded stakes winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up Broadway’s Alibi. Since beginning his career nearly two years ago to the day, Golden Lad has put together a 14: 7-2-0 record for purse earnings of $466,220. Prior wins include the Essex Handicap and the G3 Razorback Handicap.
