Golden Trail (USA)
March 5, 1958 – 1981
Hasty Road (USA) x Sunny Vale (USA), by Eight Thirty (USA)
Family 4-r
"GENETIC GEM"
March 5, 1958 – 1981
Hasty Road (USA) x Sunny Vale (USA), by Eight Thirty (USA)
Family 4-r
"GENETIC GEM"
A modest winner on the track, Golden Trail became a foundation mare for John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farms. Her family had remarkable success with crosses incorporating Darby Dan sires Roberto, Graustark and His Majesty.
Race record
11 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$6,880
Golden Trail's wins were in a 5½ furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga at 2 and a 7-furlong allowance at Aqueduct at 3. She pulled up lame in her final start.
As an individual
A bay mare, Golden Trail was short-coupled and of no more than medium size. Her progeny were usually no more than medium-sized even when sired by large horses and were reasonably sound.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Golden Trail produced 17 named foals, of which 13 started and 12 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Golden Trail was bred and owned by Isabel Dodge Sloane's Brookmeade Stable. She was trained by Elliott Burch. Following Sloane's death in 1962, her breeding stock was purchased privately by Winston Guest, who then sold Golden Trail and 37 other mares to a syndicate organized by John Galbreath. Golden Trail was one of the mares retained by Galbreath for his Darby Dan Farm when the group was divided among the syndicate members.
Pedigree notes
Golden Trail is inbred 5x5 to Ultimus. She is a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Grand Canyon (by Rico Monte) and stakes winner Valley (by Ardan). She is also a half sister to Secret Valley (by Priam II), dam of Grade 2 winner Triumphant (by Warfare) and stakes winner Make It Easy (by Reneged), second dam of 1990 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner Home At Last and Grade 3 winner Niner's Home, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Spring Beauty. Another half sister to Golden Trail, Fun 'n Sun (by Porterhouse) is the dam of 1985 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner Shining Sun (by Advocator) and the second dam of multiple Mexican Group 3 winner Nacionalista. A third of Golden Trail's half sisters, Dusky Duchess (by Warfare), is the dam of stakes winner Dusky Duke (by Indian Emerald).
Golden Trail was produced from stakes-placed Sunny Vale, a full sister to the good stakes winner Sunny Dale. The second dam of five stakes winners, Sunny Dale is the third dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Jacksboro and the ancestress of Grade 1 winners Mucho Macho Man, Dream Empress, Prenup, and Yonaguska. Sunny Vale is also a half sister to 1948 Arkansas Derby winner Fertile Lands (by Reaping Reward), multiple stakes winner Encore (by More Sun), and the high-class stakes mare Big Effort (by Endeavour II), whose son Great Heron (by Sea-Bird) was a multiple stakes winner in Europe. In addition, Sunny Vale is a half sister to Winning Bid (by Psychic Bid), dam of stakes winner Weal or Woe (by Eight Thirty). Sunny Vale's dam Sun Mixa (by Sun Briar) is a full sister to Lady Nicotine, second dam of 1951 Champagne Stakes winner Armageddon.
Books and media
Last updated: January 9, 2023
Race record
11 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$6,880
Golden Trail's wins were in a 5½ furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga at 2 and a 7-furlong allowance at Aqueduct at 3. She pulled up lame in her final start.
As an individual
A bay mare, Golden Trail was short-coupled and of no more than medium size. Her progeny were usually no more than medium-sized even when sired by large horses and were reasonably sound.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Golden Trail produced 17 named foals, of which 13 started and 12 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Meadow Stream (1963, by Native Dancer) was stakes-placed on the track. She is the dam of stakes winner Bold Voyager (by His Majesty), the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Fool's Prayer and multiple stakes winner Monica Faye, and the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Freedom Crest.
- On the Trail (1964, by Olympia) never raced but is the dam of 1982 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Andover Way (by His Majesty; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and important sire Dynaformer, by Roberto), Classic-placed Grade 2 winner Darby Creek Road (by Roberto; a good sire) and stakes winner Regal Road (by Graustark). Through her daughters, On the Trail founded the most important branch of Golden Trail's family.
- Gleaming Light (1966, by Never Bend; a gelding) won the 1969 Dwyer Handicap.
- Java Moon (1970, by Graustark) won the 1973 Comely Stakes (USA-G3). She is the second dam of nine stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Memories of Silver, Grade 2 winner Memories, and multiple Grade 3 winner Naskra's Return. She is also the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Winter Memories, multiple Grade 3 winner India, Grade 3 winner La Cloche, and French Group 3 winner Russian Revival.
- Sylvan Place (1972, by Graustark) was a Grade 1-placed stakes winner but died as a 3-year-old.
- Outward Sunshine (1974, by Graustark) was stakes-placed on the track. She produced 1988 American champion turf male Sunshine Forever (by Roberto) and is the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Aavelord. She is also the third dam of 2014 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner V. E. Day, 2021 Mr. D. Stakes (USA-G1) winner Two Emmys, and Grade/Group 3 winners Hotstufanthensome, Silver Charades, Xtra Luck, Harry Potter, and Hunky.
- Golden Lamb (1976, by Graustark) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Meadowlamb (by Meadowlake) and the second dam of English Group 2 winner Albert Hall and stakes winner Barsine.
- Kelley's Day (1977, by Graustark) was Grade 2-placed as a race mare. Her multiple Grade 1-winning son Brian's Time (by Roberto) became a good sire in Japan, while her listed stakes-winning daughter Ellie's Moment (by Roberto's son Kris S.) produced a similar winner in Awesome Bet (by Awesome Again). Kelley's Day is also the second dam of 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Lane's End (USA-G1) winner Time and Motion and the third dam of 2009 Premio Mil Guineas (CHI-G1) winner Bonny and Clyde, 2010 Premio Mil Guineas winner Ocean Quest, and Japanese Group 3 winners Courir Passion and Hiraboku King.
- Autumn Glory (1978, by Graustark) was Grade 1-placed and produced French Group 3 winners Glorify (by Nijinsky II) and Doree (by Stop the Music). She is also the second dam of five stakes winners including European and American champion Ryafan (dam of Grade 3 winner Phantom Wind, by Storm Cat), English Group 2 winner Tillerman, and Grade 3 winner Epicentre.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Golden Trail was bred and owned by Isabel Dodge Sloane's Brookmeade Stable. She was trained by Elliott Burch. Following Sloane's death in 1962, her breeding stock was purchased privately by Winston Guest, who then sold Golden Trail and 37 other mares to a syndicate organized by John Galbreath. Golden Trail was one of the mares retained by Galbreath for his Darby Dan Farm when the group was divided among the syndicate members.
Pedigree notes
Golden Trail is inbred 5x5 to Ultimus. She is a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Grand Canyon (by Rico Monte) and stakes winner Valley (by Ardan). She is also a half sister to Secret Valley (by Priam II), dam of Grade 2 winner Triumphant (by Warfare) and stakes winner Make It Easy (by Reneged), second dam of 1990 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner Home At Last and Grade 3 winner Niner's Home, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Spring Beauty. Another half sister to Golden Trail, Fun 'n Sun (by Porterhouse) is the dam of 1985 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner Shining Sun (by Advocator) and the second dam of multiple Mexican Group 3 winner Nacionalista. A third of Golden Trail's half sisters, Dusky Duchess (by Warfare), is the dam of stakes winner Dusky Duke (by Indian Emerald).
Golden Trail was produced from stakes-placed Sunny Vale, a full sister to the good stakes winner Sunny Dale. The second dam of five stakes winners, Sunny Dale is the third dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Jacksboro and the ancestress of Grade 1 winners Mucho Macho Man, Dream Empress, Prenup, and Yonaguska. Sunny Vale is also a half sister to 1948 Arkansas Derby winner Fertile Lands (by Reaping Reward), multiple stakes winner Encore (by More Sun), and the high-class stakes mare Big Effort (by Endeavour II), whose son Great Heron (by Sea-Bird) was a multiple stakes winner in Europe. In addition, Sunny Vale is a half sister to Winning Bid (by Psychic Bid), dam of stakes winner Weal or Woe (by Eight Thirty). Sunny Vale's dam Sun Mixa (by Sun Briar) is a full sister to Lady Nicotine, second dam of 1951 Champagne Stakes winner Armageddon.
Books and media
- Golden Trail is profiled in Chapter 34 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares; How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
- Golden Trail is one of 22 broodmares profiled in Edward L. Bowen's Matriarchs II: More Great Mares of Modern Times (2008, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: January 9, 2023