Go for Gin (USA)
April 18, 1991 – March 8, 2022
Cormorant (USA) x Never Knock (USA), by Stage Door Johnny (USA)
Family 1-x
April 18, 1991 – March 8, 2022
Cormorant (USA) x Never Knock (USA), by Stage Door Johnny (USA)
Family 1-x
Holy Bull was a hot favorite for the 1994 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), but while the eventual Horse of the Year spun his wheels over a sloppy Churchill Downs strip, Go for Gin nimbly splashed his way to victory in front-running fashion. While he was runner-up to Tabasco Cat in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) and Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), Go for Gin never won again and was a disappointing stallion.
Race record
19 starts, 5 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,380,866
1993:
1994:
1995:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1993, 8 pounds below co-highweights Dehere (the official divisional champion) and Brocco.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1994, 9 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Holy Bull but fourth overall.
As an individual
A handsome dark bay or brown horse standing 16 hands, Go for Gin was well-balanced and athletic with a regal carriage. He was retired in 1993 due to a tendon tear suffered during a workout. According to his page at the Kentucky Horse Park's website, he liked to have his gums rubbed and enjoyed splashing in his water bucket. He had a dominant disposition and would test his human handlers but was not mean or aggressive. As a pensioner at the Horse Park, he was kindly enough that visitors were sometimes permitted to groom him. He enjoyed Jolly Ranchers, Life Savers, and the occasional plum as treats.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Go for Gin sired 218 winners (52.7%) and 12 stakes winners (2.9%) from 413 named foals.
Notable progeny
Albert the Great (USA), El Autentico (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Pillar Stud, Go for Gin was bred by Pamela duPont Darmstadt. He was owned by William J. Condren and Joseph M. Cornacchia, who purchased him as a yearling for US$150,000 from the 1992 Fasig-Tipton August sale. The horse was trained by Nick Zito. Go for Gin entered stud in Kentucky in 1996 at Claiborne Farm, which had bought a 20 percent interest in the horse. In 2004, William Boniface became a partner in Go for Gin with Cornacchia (who had bought out Condren's and Claiborne's interests in the stallion), and the horse was moved to Boniface's Bonita Farm in Darlington, Maryland. He remained at stud in Maryland until 2011, when he was pensioned and donated to the Kentucky Horse Park. He died of heart failure on March 8, 2022, and was buried at the Memorial Walk of Champions at the Horse Park.
Pedigree notes
Go for Gin is inbred 5x5 to 1943 American Horse of the Year Count Fleet, the American champion sire of 1951 and the American champion broodmare sire of 1963. He is a half brother to 1992 American champion older male Pleasant Tap (by Pleasant Colony) and to Navy Knock (by Bold Navy), dam of stakes winner Perceived Value (by Present Value).
Never Knock, the dam of Go for Gin, won two of her 16 starts. She is a half sister to stakes-placed She Might Hula (by Caucasus), dam of 1992 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1) winner Hulastrike (by Straight Strike) and second dam of New Zealand Group 2 winner Hulachine. She is also a half sister to Never Babble (by Advocator), dam of Grade 2 winner Don't Say Halo (by Halo) and stakes winner Never Bat (by Batonnier); second dam of Sultan's Light, who produced five stakes winners on the New England circuit; and third dam of two-time New Zealand champion Silent Achiever. In addition, Never Hula is a half sister to Native Hula (by Exclusive Native), third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Repo Rocks.
Never Knock is out of stakes-placed Never Hula (by Never Bend), whose stakes-winning full sister Hula Bend produced 1985 George Ryder Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Hula Drum and 1986 Doncaster Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Hula Chief (both by Marceau). Hula Bend is also the third dam of Australian Group 2 winner Mardi's Magic and Australian Group 3 winner Viva La Vie. Returning to Never Hula, she is also a half sister to Regalita (by Ribot), dam of 1974 South African champion 3-year-old filly Vicereine (by Free Ride), and to Damascene (by Damascus), dam of Grade 2 winner Delicate Ice (by Icecapade).
Never Hula and her sisters are out of Hula Hula (by Polynesian), whose half sister Be Like Mom (by Sickle) is the dam of 1947 American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female But Why Not, three-time American champion steeplechaser Oedipus and 1951 Firenze Handicap winner Renew, all by Blue Larkspur. A daughter of 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen (by Black Toney x La Troienne), Hula Hula is also a half sister to Broth (by St. Germans), dam of 1953 Benjamin Franklin Handicap winner Open Show (by Amphitheatre); to In the Purple (by Burgoo King), dam of 1955 Benjamin Frankin Handicap winner Imagem (by Ace Admiral); to Resourceful (by Shut Out), dam of 1964 Seneca Handicap and Stymie Handicap winner The Ibex (by Hill Prince); and to Choosy (by My Request), dam of stakes winner Round Pearl (by Round Table).
Books and media
Go for Gin is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2011. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 22, 2024
Race record
19 starts, 5 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,380,866
1993:
- Won Remsen Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Chief's Crown Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1994:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preview Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Forego Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
1995:
- 3rd Churchill Downs Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1993, 8 pounds below co-highweights Dehere (the official divisional champion) and Brocco.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1994, 9 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Holy Bull but fourth overall.
As an individual
A handsome dark bay or brown horse standing 16 hands, Go for Gin was well-balanced and athletic with a regal carriage. He was retired in 1993 due to a tendon tear suffered during a workout. According to his page at the Kentucky Horse Park's website, he liked to have his gums rubbed and enjoyed splashing in his water bucket. He had a dominant disposition and would test his human handlers but was not mean or aggressive. As a pensioner at the Horse Park, he was kindly enough that visitors were sometimes permitted to groom him. He enjoyed Jolly Ranchers, Life Savers, and the occasional plum as treats.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Go for Gin sired 218 winners (52.7%) and 12 stakes winners (2.9%) from 413 named foals.
Notable progeny
Albert the Great (USA), El Autentico (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Pillar Stud, Go for Gin was bred by Pamela duPont Darmstadt. He was owned by William J. Condren and Joseph M. Cornacchia, who purchased him as a yearling for US$150,000 from the 1992 Fasig-Tipton August sale. The horse was trained by Nick Zito. Go for Gin entered stud in Kentucky in 1996 at Claiborne Farm, which had bought a 20 percent interest in the horse. In 2004, William Boniface became a partner in Go for Gin with Cornacchia (who had bought out Condren's and Claiborne's interests in the stallion), and the horse was moved to Boniface's Bonita Farm in Darlington, Maryland. He remained at stud in Maryland until 2011, when he was pensioned and donated to the Kentucky Horse Park. He died of heart failure on March 8, 2022, and was buried at the Memorial Walk of Champions at the Horse Park.
Pedigree notes
Go for Gin is inbred 5x5 to 1943 American Horse of the Year Count Fleet, the American champion sire of 1951 and the American champion broodmare sire of 1963. He is a half brother to 1992 American champion older male Pleasant Tap (by Pleasant Colony) and to Navy Knock (by Bold Navy), dam of stakes winner Perceived Value (by Present Value).
Never Knock, the dam of Go for Gin, won two of her 16 starts. She is a half sister to stakes-placed She Might Hula (by Caucasus), dam of 1992 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1) winner Hulastrike (by Straight Strike) and second dam of New Zealand Group 2 winner Hulachine. She is also a half sister to Never Babble (by Advocator), dam of Grade 2 winner Don't Say Halo (by Halo) and stakes winner Never Bat (by Batonnier); second dam of Sultan's Light, who produced five stakes winners on the New England circuit; and third dam of two-time New Zealand champion Silent Achiever. In addition, Never Hula is a half sister to Native Hula (by Exclusive Native), third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Repo Rocks.
Never Knock is out of stakes-placed Never Hula (by Never Bend), whose stakes-winning full sister Hula Bend produced 1985 George Ryder Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Hula Drum and 1986 Doncaster Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Hula Chief (both by Marceau). Hula Bend is also the third dam of Australian Group 2 winner Mardi's Magic and Australian Group 3 winner Viva La Vie. Returning to Never Hula, she is also a half sister to Regalita (by Ribot), dam of 1974 South African champion 3-year-old filly Vicereine (by Free Ride), and to Damascene (by Damascus), dam of Grade 2 winner Delicate Ice (by Icecapade).
Never Hula and her sisters are out of Hula Hula (by Polynesian), whose half sister Be Like Mom (by Sickle) is the dam of 1947 American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female But Why Not, three-time American champion steeplechaser Oedipus and 1951 Firenze Handicap winner Renew, all by Blue Larkspur. A daughter of 1935 American champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen (by Black Toney x La Troienne), Hula Hula is also a half sister to Broth (by St. Germans), dam of 1953 Benjamin Franklin Handicap winner Open Show (by Amphitheatre); to In the Purple (by Burgoo King), dam of 1955 Benjamin Frankin Handicap winner Imagem (by Ace Admiral); to Resourceful (by Shut Out), dam of 1964 Seneca Handicap and Stymie Handicap winner The Ibex (by Hill Prince); and to Choosy (by My Request), dam of stakes winner Round Pearl (by Round Table).
Books and media
Go for Gin is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In the game of gin rummy, a player goes for gin (or goes gin) when he or she ends the round of play by laying out a hand in which all 10 cards are part of melds (sets of at least three cards that are either all of the same rank or that form a consecutive sequence within the same suit). A player who successfully goes for gin gets a bonus of a set amount (usually 25 points) plus the point values of any deadwood (cards that do not fit into melds) in the opposing player's hand.
- On May 3, three days before the Kentucky Derby, trainer Nick Zito told a reporter that he had repeatedly awakened the previous night because he kept dreaming of Go for Gin being at the wire in first place in the Derby. He was right.
- Go for Gin is the fourth Kentucky Derby winner to have taken up residence at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions. The other Kentucky Derby winners to have been resident there are Bold Forbes (1991-2000), Alysheba (2008-2009), and Funny Cide (2008-2023).
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2011. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 22, 2024