Seattle, Washington resident KRISTIN MELDAHL won her first stakes race as an owner with her filly CREED’S GOLD at Woodbine on July 5. Creed’s Gold, trained by Mark Casse, was also winning her first stakes race in her 11th career outing and third start ever at Woodbine.
Meldahl and Casse have been rewarded for their patience with Creed’s Gold, a four-year-old chestnut filly by Jimmy Creed – Foxyfromfairbanks by Fairbanks. A $25,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2022, the filly broke her maiden in her third career race last spring in a one-mile turf race at Gulfstream. A couple of months later, Creed’s Gold joined Casse’s Woodbine barn and was second in an allowance race and third in the Alywow Stakes.
She did not race again until January at Gulfstream, but she has been on a fast rise in form since then. Creed’s Gold won an optional race at 5 furlongs and in May won a turf sprint at Aqueduct. Casse sent the filly to Woodbine for the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes on Saturday after the filly was unplaced in the Intercontinental Stakes (G2) at Saratoga when she raced without Lasix.
In the Hendrie, Creed’s Gold had a smart ride from Rafael Hernandez who knew there was little speed in the field.
“I looked at the form and I definitely wanted to get out of there running,” said Hernandez, who notched his 167th career stakes win while closing in on 3,300 lifetime victories. “If she did let me get the lead, I was definitely going to get it and try to control the pace. I was able to break out of the gate and put her in a good position.
“I just tried to get a jump before the other horses [at the top of the stretch]. I know we got a couple horses, especially the (Miguel) Clement horse (defending Hendrie champion Gal in a Rush), who was going to finish running, so I made sure to get the jump before him.”
It was briefly a multi-horse scramble for the lead with Creed’s Gold, at 9-2, emerging on top, followed by stablemates Run for the Hills and Ticker Tape Home after an opening quarter in :22.85.
The chestnut filly continued to call the shots through a half in :45.34, as both Run for the Hills and Ticker Tape Home began to ratchet up the pressure into the turn for home, while Nice as Pie skimmed the rail looking to get into contention.
Creed’s Gold shook off the challenges of her barn mates and began to separate herself from her pursuers mid-way down the lane. With less than 220 yards to go, Creed’s Gold widened her advantage at will under steady urging from Rafael Hernandez, going on to record a 3 ¾-length score in 1:15.54. Ticker Tape Home was second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Nice as Pie. Ms. Tart was fourth.
Creed’s Gold earned a hefty 96 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. Her record stands at 11-4-2-2 and $256,688.
Bred by Linda Griggs, Creed’s Gold is from the unplaced mare Foxyfromfairbanks who has produced one other winner from three other foals to race.
Second dam Foxy Friend was 0-for-5 on the track, but has produced five winners including stakes-placed Tap for Luck.
Creed’s Gold at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Kristin Meldahl)
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