Goldwood: Queen of the Monmouth Turf

When Goldwood (Medaglia d'Oro) streaked to victory in the Sept. 1 Safely Kept S., it capped off a stellar summer campaign for the Colt's Neck Stable runner that saw her capture four consecutive stakes over the Monmouth Park turf course. That feat hasn't been accomplished at the Jersey Shore oval since Get Serious (City Zip) in 2009.

While her trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr., has always believed Goldwood was a stakes horse from the moment she stepped onto Richard Santulli's farm as 2-year-old, it was the decision to equip the filly with blinkers that Duarte credits for her improved form and success. After breaking her maiden in her fourth try as a sophomore at Laurel, Goldwood failed to hit the board in two New York optional claiming events. Sent to Palm Meadows for the winter, Duarte and previous Colt's Neck Stable trainer and current stable manager, Alan Goldberg, made the joint decision to put the blinkers on the filly to sharpen her focus. The equipment change paid off handsomely for her connections as Goldwood has found the winner's circle in seven of her last eleven starts.

The rangy bay began the year with a strong third-place finish behind Samara (Hard Spun) and recent GIII Spendthrift Farms Ladies S. victress Morticia (Twirling Candy) in Gulfstream's Mar. 9 Captivia Island S. Despite being her only losing effort of 2019, the Captiva Island S. foreshadowed the summer that was to come from Goldwood.

“She had a horrible trip that day,” said Duarte. “Her entry mate went out in a speed duel with Morticia and they blazed on the front end. Goldwood was forced wide the whole way and probably could've won that race if things went a little more her way. I thought she ran huge.”

Following a three-month freshening back at Colt's Neck Stables, in Colt's Neck, N.J., Goldwood relished the Monmouth turf and put together back-to-back scores in the May 18 Politely S. and June 8 Unbridled Elaine S. in decisive fashion. In the Politely, she defeated Mominou (Congrats), who in her subsequent start triumphed over a strong group of fillies in Saratoga's Caress S. July 21.

The Aug. 10 Incredible Revenge S. poised a challenge for the firm-turf course specialist after rainstorms in days leading up to the race left the turf course rated as “good.”

“We were lucky to have a drier summer this year than in years past,” said Duarte. “Goldwood likes when there's a bounce in the ground. When the turf course came up as good on race day we were debating if she could overcome that or not just because she's shown she doesn't it when the turf is too soft.”

Goldwood responded with a courageous performance in securing the win by a half-length over Auldwood Lane (Bodemeister).

“To me, that was her best race of the season,” said Duarte. “She had to dig in a few times to get to the front and ran over a turf course she didn't like. She was challenged and pressed a lot. She showed a lot of heart. And then after the race she cooled out in like five minutes. It was incredible. She's all racehorse.”

The Sept. 1 Safely Kept, however, was the crowning moment for Goldwood as she swept under the wire and etched her name into the Monmouth Park history books. The victory was especially sweet for her connections, who owned the race's namesake, the brilliant Safely Kept.

“It was a race we really wanted the barn to win,” said Duarte. “I definitely felt the pressure coming into the race. Safely Kept means everything to the farm, she was the beginning for Al and Rich.”

Safely Kept (Horatius) will be forever immortalized in the minds of race fans as the determined filly who defeated the British Horse of the Year Dayjur (Danzig) in an erratically run stretch drive in the 1990 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. The champion sprinter strung together a Hall of Fame race career that included 24 wins in 30 trips to the post. Safely Kept, trained by Goldberg, was owned by Jayeff B. Stable, which was comprised of Barry Weisbord, Santulli, and George Prussin.

Prior to her stunning win in the Breeders' Cup, Safely Kept was one of just three horses Santulli had in training with Goldberg at the time. That runner's success paved the way for a 29-year partnership between the two men. Santulli later purchased his private training facility, Colt's Neck Stables, in 1998, naming Goldberg as the head conditioner of the operation. Goldberg trained for Santulli up until last year, when he then handed the reins over to his long time assistant, Duarte.

Coincidentally, the dam of Goldwood, Crimson Maple (Rahy), who was also campaigned by Santulli, is out of Maplejinsky, a half-sister to none other than Dayjur. Crimson Maple has two offspring still remaining with Colt's Neck Stables, including the unraced 3-year-old filly Spin Control (Hard Spun) and a yearling colt by Hard Spun.

“They both look pretty nice,” said Duarte. “The yearling is at Mill Ridge and we're definitely going to keep him.”

In addition to Santulli's achievements as an owner, he has bred and sold Grade I winners Oxbow (Awesome Again) and Panty Raid (Include). Santulli also bred and owned the recently retired millionaire Force the Pass (Speightstown), who romped in the 2015 inaugural GI Belmont Derby. He stands at Anchor and Hope Farm in Maryland.

Goldwood will attempt to continue her winning ways in this Saturday's Turf Amazon S. at Parx or in the Sensible Lady Turf Dash S. at Laurel. Interestingly enough, Sensible Lady was another Goldberg trainee and six-time stakes winner for Santulli.

“I think she's not too far away from the top turf sprinting mares in the country as far as ability and performance wise,” said Duarte. “There are good fillies out there and we've tested her against the best and she's gotten beaten by that much. And coming off her summer she has the confidence now.”