Kona Gold (USA)
March 19, 1994 – September 25, 2009
Java Gold (USA) x Double Sunrise (USA), by Slew o' Gold (USA)
Family 5-f
March 19, 1994 – September 25, 2009
Java Gold (USA) x Double Sunrise (USA), by Slew o' Gold (USA)
Family 5-f
A throwback to the speed of Grey Flight in spite of repeated crosses of his dam line to stamina-oriented sires, Kona Gold took some time to develop his full ability but proved a top-class sprinter when he did. He reached the top of the tree as a 6-year-old, when his five wins from six starts included the 2000 Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1). He continued racing for three more years and then served as a stable pony before a deserved but sadly brief retirement to the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Race record
30 starts, 14 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,293,384
1998:
1999:
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (2000)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Namid (the winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, FR-G1) at 127 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2000 International Classification.
Co-highweighted with Delaware Township on the International Classifications for 2001 for dirt males aged 4 and up over 1000m–1400m.
As an individual
A bay gelding, Kona Gold had his share of physical issues that needed managing and never made more than six starts in any one season. He generally did his best racing from close to the pace. He had an easy-going disposition.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Kona Gold was bred by Carlos Perez, who sold the future champion for US$35,000 at the 1995 Keeneland September yearling sale. Kona Gold was owned by Bruce Headley, Irwin Molasky and Andrew Molasky; M. Singh's High Tech Stable at the time of Kona Gold's Breeders' Cup win. The gelding was trained by Headley. After Kona Gold's retirement from racing, he became a stable pony for Headley before becoming a resident of the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2008. Kona Gold was humanely destroyed in September 2009 after fracturing his left forearm in a paddock accident.
Pedigree notes
Kona Gold is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten European champion Ribot, a three-time English/Irish champion sire. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince and to 1952 American Horse of the Year Tom Fool. He is a half brother to Gilded Sunrise (by Gilded Time), dam of stakes winner Oliver's Tale (by E Dubai).
Kona Gold's dam Double Sunrise is out of How High the Moon (by Majestic Light), a full sister to Waterford Candelabra Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Stratospheric and to stakes winner Infinite, dam of stakes winner Polish Treaty (by Danzig) and third dam of 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hot Cha Cha. How High the Moon is also a half sister to 1980 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Quick as Lightning (by Buckpasser) and to Pure Profit (by Key to the Mint), dam of 1995 American champion older female Inside Information (by Private Account), multiple Grade 1 winner Educated Risk (by Mr. Prospector), and stakes winner Diamond (Mr. Prospector) and the second dam of 2005 American champion 3-year-old filly Smuggler and Grade 3 winners Philanthropist, Defer, and Reload.
How High the Moon and her siblings are out of Clear Ceiling (by Bold Ruler), a winning daughter of the excellent matron Grey Flight (by Mahmoud). Clear Ceiling's full brother What a Pleasure won the 1967 Hopeful Stakes and is a two-time American champion sire, and her full sister Bold Princess won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes and became a first-class broodmare, producing multiple Grade 1 winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli), 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), stakes winner Primed (by Pronto), and the good sire Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer). Clear Ceiling is also a full sister to 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Bold Queen and to Pleasant Flight, dam of Grade 2 winner Flitalong (by Herbager). In addition, Clear Ceiling is a half sister to two-time American champion Misty Morn (by Princequillo), the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and stakes winners Full Flight (by Ambiorix), Gray Phantom (by Ambiorix), Misty Flight (by Princequillo), Misty Day (by Nasrullah), and Signore (by Ribot).
Fun facts
Last updated: March 23, 2024
Race record
30 starts, 14 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,293,384
1998:
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
1999:
- Won El Conejo Handicap (USA-L, 5.5FD, Santa Anita; new track record 1:01.74)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Carlos Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
2000:
- Won Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, CD; new track record 1:07.77)
- Won Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd San Carlos Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
2001:
- Won Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Carlos Handicap (USA-G1, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 6FD, Santa Anita)
2002:
- Won Los Angeles Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Hollywood)
2003:
- Won El Conejo Handicap (USA-G3, 5.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (2000)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Namid (the winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp, FR-G1) at 127 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2000 International Classification.
Co-highweighted with Delaware Township on the International Classifications for 2001 for dirt males aged 4 and up over 1000m–1400m.
As an individual
A bay gelding, Kona Gold had his share of physical issues that needed managing and never made more than six starts in any one season. He generally did his best racing from close to the pace. He had an easy-going disposition.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Kona Gold was bred by Carlos Perez, who sold the future champion for US$35,000 at the 1995 Keeneland September yearling sale. Kona Gold was owned by Bruce Headley, Irwin Molasky and Andrew Molasky; M. Singh's High Tech Stable at the time of Kona Gold's Breeders' Cup win. The gelding was trained by Headley. After Kona Gold's retirement from racing, he became a stable pony for Headley before becoming a resident of the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2008. Kona Gold was humanely destroyed in September 2009 after fracturing his left forearm in a paddock accident.
Pedigree notes
Kona Gold is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten European champion Ribot, a three-time English/Irish champion sire. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1950 American Horse of the Year Hill Prince and to 1952 American Horse of the Year Tom Fool. He is a half brother to Gilded Sunrise (by Gilded Time), dam of stakes winner Oliver's Tale (by E Dubai).
Kona Gold's dam Double Sunrise is out of How High the Moon (by Majestic Light), a full sister to Waterford Candelabra Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Stratospheric and to stakes winner Infinite, dam of stakes winner Polish Treaty (by Danzig) and third dam of 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hot Cha Cha. How High the Moon is also a half sister to 1980 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Quick as Lightning (by Buckpasser) and to Pure Profit (by Key to the Mint), dam of 1995 American champion older female Inside Information (by Private Account), multiple Grade 1 winner Educated Risk (by Mr. Prospector), and stakes winner Diamond (Mr. Prospector) and the second dam of 2005 American champion 3-year-old filly Smuggler and Grade 3 winners Philanthropist, Defer, and Reload.
How High the Moon and her siblings are out of Clear Ceiling (by Bold Ruler), a winning daughter of the excellent matron Grey Flight (by Mahmoud). Clear Ceiling's full brother What a Pleasure won the 1967 Hopeful Stakes and is a two-time American champion sire, and her full sister Bold Princess won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes and became a first-class broodmare, producing multiple Grade 1 winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli), 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), stakes winner Primed (by Pronto), and the good sire Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer). Clear Ceiling is also a full sister to 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Bold Queen and to Pleasant Flight, dam of Grade 2 winner Flitalong (by Herbager). In addition, Clear Ceiling is a half sister to two-time American champion Misty Morn (by Princequillo), the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and stakes winners Full Flight (by Ambiorix), Gray Phantom (by Ambiorix), Misty Flight (by Princequillo), Misty Day (by Nasrullah), and Signore (by Ribot).
Fun facts
- Kona Gold is the name for a coffee liqueur made solely with Kona coffee, a Hawaiian coffee that is the only coffee type grown entirely in the United States.
- Kona Gold was the first horse to run in five editions of the Breeders' Cup, making five consecutive starts (1998-2002) in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He was also the first Breeders' Cup-winning mount for jockey Alex Solis, who rode the gelding in 28 of his 30 starts.
- Kona Gold earned Beyer Speed Figures of 110 or better in 17 of his 30 starts.
- The Potrero Grande Handicap at Santa Anita, which Kona Gold won in 2000 and 2001, was renamed in the champion's honor. A Grade 2 race for horses age 4 and up, the Kona Gold Stakes was last run at 6½ furlongs in 2019.
- Kona Gold was offered a place at the Kentucky Horse Park after his retirement in 2003, but Bruce Headley declined at that time, feeling that it was better for the gelding to remain in California. After some turnout time on Headley's ranch, the gelding went through the basic training of a rodeo horse before replacing Grade 2 winner Son of a Pistol as Headley's regular stable pony.
- Kona Gold's pasture mate at the Kentucky Horse Park was two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Da Hoss.
Last updated: March 23, 2024