Steve Asmussen made it a 'sweep' for the 2-year-old stakes wins at Belmont Sunday with a dominating performance by Gold Sweep to not only break his maiden but stamp himself a contender for upcoming summer races. Despite missing by a just a neck when unveiled at Churchill Downs May 18, the son of Speightstown was running late and still earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure for his losing effort. Bet down to 4-5 breaking from an outside gate, Gold Sweep came away in good order and raced widest of the three top contenders into the far turn with Vitement (Mizzen Mast) and Ship Cadet to his inside. Up onto even terms with that pair as they swung off the bend, the chestnut surged forward to take command into the final eighth and drew off impressively to the wire to win by nearly double digits.
“At the quarter-pole he was beautiful, and at the three-sixteenths, he switched leads and exploded,” described winning jockey Jose Ortiz. “I showed him the whip a little just to ask him to get away and from that point on I just told him to finish the race. I didn't encourage him a whole lot and he did it pretty easy. For a 2-year-old in his second race and a maiden, I think he's going to be pretty nice.”
A $285,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling, Gold Sweep is his dam's fourth winner from as many to make the races. Second dam Ginger Brew, Canada's champion 3-year-old filly from 2008, also produced GII Demoiselle S. runner up Jamyson 'n Ginger (Bernardini) and is herself a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Bourbon Bay (Sligo Bay {Ire}). Wonder Brew foaled a Twirling Candy filly this spring. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
TREMONT S., $150,000, Belmont, 6-11, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.47, ft.
1–GOLD SWEEP, 120, c, 2, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Wonder Brew, by Giant's Causeway
2nd Dam: Ginger Brew, by Milwaukee Brew
3rd Dam: Coral Necklace, by Conquistador Cielo
($285,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Mike
McCarty; B-Joe Anzalone (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Jose L.
Ortiz. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $106,500.
2–Ship Cadet, 122, c, 2, Midshipman–Bella Mia, by Harbor the
Gold. ($79,000 Ylg '22 WASSEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Paradise
Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Kevin Haynes and John Huber;
B-Willam T Griffin (CA); T-Michael J. Maker. $30,000.
3–Yo Yo Candy, 122, c, 2, Danzing Candy–Yolanda B. Too, by
Two Punch. ($6,000 Ylg '22 NCAAU; $35,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Happy Tenth Stable; B-Checkmate
Thoroughbreds LLC (CA); T-Daniel Velazquez. $18,000.
Margins: 9, 1 1/4, 6 3/4. Odds: 0.80, 3.70, 26.75.
Also Ran: Frosty the Giant, Jumpingjaggerflash, Vitement. Scratched: Jive.
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