A Bit O’Gold (CAN)
March 26, 2001 – ?
Gold Fever (USA) x Annasan (USA), by Corporate Report (USA)
Family 1-n
March 26, 2001 – ?
Gold Fever (USA) x Annasan (USA), by Corporate Report (USA)
Family 1-n
Consistent and game, A Bit O’Gold was a horse that could handle any footing and was successful at up to a mile and a half, though trainer Catherine Day Phillips candidly did not consider him up to taking on top-class horses at that distance and thought he was better suited to a mile and a quarter. Whether he was up to top-level standard at that distance was never to be determined as he was injured during the running of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) and was forced into retirement.
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,788,256 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
2003
2004:
2005:
Honors
As an individual
A chestnut gelding, A Bit O’Gold was considered handsome. He could act over any footing and was consistently game and hard-trying. He was injured during the running of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Classic, ending his racing career.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, A Bit O’Gold was bred by Beclawat Stable. A CAN$40,000 yearling purchase from the Woodbine September sale, he was owned by The Two Bit Racing Stable. He was trained by Catherine Day Phillips and was ridden to his Canadian Classic successes by Jono Jones, who rode him regularly throughout his career. The gelding was retired due to “general wear and tear” in 2006 to Day Phillips’ Kingfield Farms, Ontario.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1996 NYRA Mile (USA-G1) winner Gold Fever (a son of Forty Niner), A Bit O’Gold is inbred to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and the influential broodmare Gold Digger 4x4 through the full brothers Mr. Prospector and Red Ryder; he also has an additional cross of Raise a Native at the fifth generation. In addition, A Bit O’Gold is inbred 4x4 to 1967 American Horse of the Year Damascus and 5x5 to 1966 American Horse of the Year and four-time American champion broodmare sire Buckpasser. He is a full brother to 2002 Coronation Futurity winner Arco’s Gold and a half brother to Platinum Preferred (by Vindication), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Midnight Pleasure (by Midnight Lute).
A Bit O’Gold and his siblings are out of the winner Annasan, whose sire Corporate Report (by Private Account) won the 1991 Travers Stakes (USA-G1). Annasan is a half sister to 1995 Churchill Downs Handicap (USA-G3) winner Goldseeker Bud (by Smile) and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Ashboro (by Regal Classic).
Amber Ryder, the dam of Annasan and her siblings, won two restricted stakes for Illinois-breds and is a half sister to Delightful Delia (by Cabrini Green), dam of three-time Gallant Fox Handicap (USA-G3) winner Coyote Lakes (by Society Max). Sired by Red Ryder, an unraced full brother to Mr. Prospector, Amber Ryder is out of the winning Staff Writer mare Amber Amethyst.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 23, 2022
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,788,256 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
2003
- Won Coronation Futurity (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
2004:
- Won Ontario Derby (CAN-L,9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Prince of Wales Stakes (CAN-R, 9.5FD, Fort Erie)
- Won Breeders' Stakes (CAN-R, 12FT, Woodbine)
- Won Plate Trial Stakes (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Woodbine Slots Cup Handicap (CAN-G3, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Queen's Plate (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Queenston Stakes (CAN-R, 7FD, Woodbine)
2005:
- Won Sky Classic Handicap (CAN-G2, 11FT, Woodbine)
- Won Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes (CAN-G2, 11FT, Woodbine)
- Won Dominion Day Handicap (CAN-G3, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap (CAN-G3, 12FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Vigil Handicap (CAN-G3, 7FD, Woodbine)
Honors
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Horse of the Year (2005)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old male (2004)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion older male (2005)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion turf male (2005)
- Sovereing Award runner-up, Canadian Horse of the Year (2004)
As an individual
A chestnut gelding, A Bit O’Gold was considered handsome. He could act over any footing and was consistently game and hard-trying. He was injured during the running of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Classic, ending his racing career.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, A Bit O’Gold was bred by Beclawat Stable. A CAN$40,000 yearling purchase from the Woodbine September sale, he was owned by The Two Bit Racing Stable. He was trained by Catherine Day Phillips and was ridden to his Canadian Classic successes by Jono Jones, who rode him regularly throughout his career. The gelding was retired due to “general wear and tear” in 2006 to Day Phillips’ Kingfield Farms, Ontario.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1996 NYRA Mile (USA-G1) winner Gold Fever (a son of Forty Niner), A Bit O’Gold is inbred to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and the influential broodmare Gold Digger 4x4 through the full brothers Mr. Prospector and Red Ryder; he also has an additional cross of Raise a Native at the fifth generation. In addition, A Bit O’Gold is inbred 4x4 to 1967 American Horse of the Year Damascus and 5x5 to 1966 American Horse of the Year and four-time American champion broodmare sire Buckpasser. He is a full brother to 2002 Coronation Futurity winner Arco’s Gold and a half brother to Platinum Preferred (by Vindication), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Midnight Pleasure (by Midnight Lute).
A Bit O’Gold and his siblings are out of the winner Annasan, whose sire Corporate Report (by Private Account) won the 1991 Travers Stakes (USA-G1). Annasan is a half sister to 1995 Churchill Downs Handicap (USA-G3) winner Goldseeker Bud (by Smile) and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Ashboro (by Regal Classic).
Amber Ryder, the dam of Annasan and her siblings, won two restricted stakes for Illinois-breds and is a half sister to Delightful Delia (by Cabrini Green), dam of three-time Gallant Fox Handicap (USA-G3) winner Coyote Lakes (by Society Max). Sired by Red Ryder, an unraced full brother to Mr. Prospector, Amber Ryder is out of the winning Staff Writer mare Amber Amethyst.
Fun facts
- A Bit O’Gold was the first Canadian champion 3-year-old male to win a title in the Canadian older male division at 4 since Frost King in 1981-1982.
- A Bit O’Gold was known to his fans and stable connections as “Goldie.”
- A Bit O’Gold’s victory in the 2004 Breeders’ Stakes made Catherine Day Phillips the first woman to train the winner of the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Last updated: December 23, 2022