Band of Gold rallies in Martha Washington; R Harper Rose blooms in Forward Gal

Feb 03, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Band of Gold burst into the Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture by upsetting Saturday’s Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park. The day’s other scoring race at Gulfstream Park, the $145,000 Forward Gal (G3), went to one-turn specialist R Harper Rose.

The Ken McPeek-trained Band of Gold was overlooked at 24-1 in the Martha Washington, given her distant fifth in the Dec. 23 Untapable S. last time out. But the Dixiana Farms runner improved markedly in this third career start to spring a $50.60 surprise on a sloppy track.

Band of Gold was reserved in a ground-saving sixth by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., several lengths behind the leaders. Tapit Jenallie set the pace, tracked by Neom Beach and even-money favorite Denim and Pearls. Turning for home, Denim and Pearls ranged up as if to stamp her authority, but she couldn’t quite get away from the stubborn Tapit Jenallie and Neom Beach.

By that point, Hernandez had guided Band of Gold to the outside for a clear path, and the gray filly gained on the laboring trio ahead of her. Finishing full of run, she splashed to a 2 3/4-length decision in 1:45.16.

#2 Band of Gold and @b_hernandezjr come from off the pace at 24/1 in the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park! 🏆

It's 20 points towards the #KentuckyOaks for the @kennymcpeek trainee! 🌷

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/iTFhHyVzMH

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 3, 2024

Band of Gold was kicking off a big race double for McPeek and Hernandez, who later combined to win the Southwest (G3) with Mystik Dan. She earned 20 points toward the Oaks; with her one prior point from the Untapable, Band of Gold has 21 points that put her fourth on the leaderboard.

Denim and Pearls managed to edge Neom Beach for second, good for 10 points. Neom Beach opened her Oaks account with six points, and Tapit Jenallie secured four points in fourth. There was a four-length gap back to fifth Promisemeanempire (two points). Divine Gal, Saratoga Secret, In Good Taste, and Hush It Honey completed the order of finish.

While Band of Gold might have been buoyed by the sloppy track, she also has the pedigree to progress with maturity. She’s from the first crop of late-developing Preservationist, and her dam (mother), Play for Gold, is a half-sister (by Cairo Prince) to My Boy Jack, hero of the 2018 Southwest and Lexington (G3) and fifth in that year’s Kentucky Derby (G1).

Band of Gold won at first asking on the Nov. 25 “Stars of Tomorrow II” card at Churchill Downs, closing in time in a one-mile maiden that was transferred from the turf to the main track. The Untapable was her stakes and two-turn debut. She was a different proposition at Oaklawn, enhancing her record to 3-2-0-0, $206,000.

Bred by the late Brereton C. Jones, Band of Gold could add to the former Kentucky governor’s legacy. Oaks queens Proud Spell (2008) and Believe You Can (2012) were both homebreds campaigned by Jones, and he also raced a third Oaks winner in Lovely Maria (2015).

In contrast, Forward Gal heroine R Harper Rose isn’t expected to pursue the Oaks trail. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee was handed her only loss when trying the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire S., and she reiterated her preference for shorter distances in the seven-furlong Forward Gal.

R HARPER ROSE wins the G3 Forward Gal and earns 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks! 🌸 pic.twitter.com/P7d0WHrpH3

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) February 3, 2024

Under regular rider Edgard Zayas, R Harper Rose attended pacesetter Fiona’s Magic before driving two lengths clear in a final time of 1:24.34. Her 20 Oaks points will be academic, unless connections change their plans.

“This is it for her, one turn,” Joseph told Gulfstream publicity. “ We’re not going to experiment. Last time things didn’t go right, but we’re going to keep her to one turn. There’s a lot of races for her at one turn.”

Fiona’s Magic held second in her stakes debut, earning 10 points. Chi Chi picked up six points in third. Scalable, the 19-10 favorite, checked in fourth in a performance suggesting that she’d rather step back up in trip. Adding four points to her account, Scalable now has a total of 12. Next came Nikitis (two points) and Witwatersrand, while Kissedbyanangel was withdrawn.

Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing’s R Harper Rose has compiled a record of 5-4-1-0, $344,025. The Forward Gal is her second stakes win, following the Oct. 21 Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Sire S. at this same track and trip.