Gold Strike (CAN)
March 30, 2002 – Living
Smart Strike (CAN) x Brassy Gold (CAN), by Dixieland Brass (USA)
Family 9
March 30, 2002 – Living
Smart Strike (CAN) x Brassy Gold (CAN), by Dixieland Brass (USA)
Family 9
The pride of Manitoba, where she was bred and where she began her racing career, Gold Strike was the best Canadian sophomore filly of her crop. She climbed even greater heights when her last foal, Rich Strike, pulled a huge upset in the 2022 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1). Also the dam of Grade 2 winner Llanarmon, Gold Strike has two stakes producers among her daughters thus far.
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$564,400 (converted from Canadian earnings)
2004:
2005:
2006:
Honors
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare, Gold Strike is good-sized, roomy and plain.
As a producer
Gold Strike has produced seven named foals, of which five started and four won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Manitoba, Gold Strike was bred and owned by Richard Bonnycastle's Harlequin Ranches. She was trained by Blair Miller as a juvenile; at 3, she was trained by Reade Baker and was ridden to her Woodbine Oaks win by Jim McAleney. As a broodmare, she was initially owned by Cavendish Investing, which bred her first five foals. She was then sold to Calumet Farm for US$230,000 through the 2015 Keeneland November mixed sale, covered by Sky Mesa. After failing to get in foal on a cover by Ransom the Moon in 2019, she sold for US$1,700 to bloodstock agent Tommy Wente through the 2019 Keeneland November sale. Wente then sold the mare privately to Merrill Roberts, but after Gold Strike failed to get in foal to covers by Sahara Sky, Roberts gave the mare to Austin Nicks in the spring of 2022. Nicks was unable to get the mare in foal again, but after realizing she had a foal in the Kentucky Derby, he did cash a bet on that foal, Rich Strike, at nearly 81-1 odds.
Pedigree notes
Gold Strike is inbred 3x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and to the good racemare and important producer Gold Digger through the full brothers Mr. Prospector and Search for Gold. She is one of only three foals, all winners, produced from unraced Brassy Gold (by multiple graded stakes winner Dixieland Brass, by Dixieland Band), whose stakes-placed half sister, Miss Regal Classic (by Regal Classic), is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Classic Verse (by Opening Verse). Brassy Gold, in turn, is out of stakes winner Panning for Gold (by Search for Gold), a half sister to stakes winner Be Gallant (by Gallant Romeo).
Panning for Gold’s dam, Apple Pan Dowdy (by the stakes-winning Bold Ruler horse Bold Commander), was unplaced in all three of her races but is a half sister to La Belle Alliance (by Staunchness), dam of juvenile stakes winner T. V. Alliance (by T. V. Commercial). The next dam in Rich Strike’s tail-female line, Apple Bomb (by the good stakes winner Cosmic Bomb, by Pharamond II), is a half sister to 1962 Quaker City Handicap winner Try Cash (by Johns Joy); to Stew Zoo (by Sunrise Flight), dam of 1988 Countess Fager Handicap (USA-G3) winner Nature’s Way (by Nain Bleu); and to Nearctic Punch (by Nearctic), dam of multiple stakes winner Impetuous Punch (by Regal and Royal). Apple Bomb and her siblings are out of Pulcinella (by Blenheim II).
Books and media
Footage of Gold Strike’s win in the 2005 Woodbine Oaks can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPBMZWGqmE4.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 21, 2005
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$564,400 (converted from Canadian earnings)
2004:
- Won Debutante Stakes (CAN-R, 5.5FD, Assiniboia Downs)
- Won Buffalo Stakes (CAN-R, 6FD, Assiniboia Downs)
2005:
- Won Selene Stakes (CAN-G3, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Labatt Woodbine Oaks (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Star Shoot Stakes (CAN-L, 6FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Queen's Plate (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
2006:
- 2nd Hendrie Stakes (CAN-G3, 6.5FD, Woodbine)
Honors
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (2005)
- Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year (2005)
- Manitoba-bred champion 2-year-old filly (2004)
- Manitoba-bred champion 3-year-old filly (2005)
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare, Gold Strike is good-sized, roomy and plain.
As a producer
Gold Strike has produced seven named foals, of which five started and four won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Lode Lady (2008, by Posse) won three of her 12 starts, She is the dam of 2024 Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon Stakes (USA-G3) and Beaugay Stakes (USA-G3) winner Neecie Marie (by Cross Traffic).
- Llanarmon (2011, by Sky Mesa) won the 2013 Natalma Stakes (CAN-G2).
- Stoney Miss (2015, by Birdstone) never raced but is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner No More Options (by Frac Daddy).
- Rich Strike (2019, by Keen Ice) won the 2022 Kentucky Derby.
Connections
Foaled in Manitoba, Gold Strike was bred and owned by Richard Bonnycastle's Harlequin Ranches. She was trained by Blair Miller as a juvenile; at 3, she was trained by Reade Baker and was ridden to her Woodbine Oaks win by Jim McAleney. As a broodmare, she was initially owned by Cavendish Investing, which bred her first five foals. She was then sold to Calumet Farm for US$230,000 through the 2015 Keeneland November mixed sale, covered by Sky Mesa. After failing to get in foal on a cover by Ransom the Moon in 2019, she sold for US$1,700 to bloodstock agent Tommy Wente through the 2019 Keeneland November sale. Wente then sold the mare privately to Merrill Roberts, but after Gold Strike failed to get in foal to covers by Sahara Sky, Roberts gave the mare to Austin Nicks in the spring of 2022. Nicks was unable to get the mare in foal again, but after realizing she had a foal in the Kentucky Derby, he did cash a bet on that foal, Rich Strike, at nearly 81-1 odds.
Pedigree notes
Gold Strike is inbred 3x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and to the good racemare and important producer Gold Digger through the full brothers Mr. Prospector and Search for Gold. She is one of only three foals, all winners, produced from unraced Brassy Gold (by multiple graded stakes winner Dixieland Brass, by Dixieland Band), whose stakes-placed half sister, Miss Regal Classic (by Regal Classic), is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Classic Verse (by Opening Verse). Brassy Gold, in turn, is out of stakes winner Panning for Gold (by Search for Gold), a half sister to stakes winner Be Gallant (by Gallant Romeo).
Panning for Gold’s dam, Apple Pan Dowdy (by the stakes-winning Bold Ruler horse Bold Commander), was unplaced in all three of her races but is a half sister to La Belle Alliance (by Staunchness), dam of juvenile stakes winner T. V. Alliance (by T. V. Commercial). The next dam in Rich Strike’s tail-female line, Apple Bomb (by the good stakes winner Cosmic Bomb, by Pharamond II), is a half sister to 1962 Quaker City Handicap winner Try Cash (by Johns Joy); to Stew Zoo (by Sunrise Flight), dam of 1988 Countess Fager Handicap (USA-G3) winner Nature’s Way (by Nain Bleu); and to Nearctic Punch (by Nearctic), dam of multiple stakes winner Impetuous Punch (by Regal and Royal). Apple Bomb and her siblings are out of Pulcinella (by Blenheim II).
Books and media
Footage of Gold Strike’s win in the 2005 Woodbine Oaks can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPBMZWGqmE4.
Fun facts
- During her racing days, Gold Strike was known as the “Manitoba Missile.”
Last updated: February 21, 2005