SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y–As part of his wife Audrey's birthday celebration Thursday, Martin Schwartz took her to the winner's enclosure after the opener at Saratoga Race Course. They know the space well, but It was their first visit there in four years.
The Schwartzes walked their 2-year-old filly Gold Lightning (Bolt d'Oro) in from the track after she won the 1 1/16-mile turf maiden by 2 1/4 lengths. She reached the wire on the inner turf course 1:45.93 and paid $31.40.
Under jockey Manny Franco, Gold Lightning delivered a solid off-the-pace run between horses in the stretch to overtake Positive Carry (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) at the sixteenth pole.
Martin Schwartz said he had no idea what to expect from the bay filly he purchased as a yearling for $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October sale. He said that trainer Brad Cox told him Wednesday that the filly was going to compete Thursday, regardless of whether the race was run on turf as scheduled or moved to the main track, as has happened so often during this wet Saratoga summer.
“All I know is where she was broken, at Paul Sharp's farm in Ocala, he really liked her and he's a hell of a horseman,” Schwartz said. “So I was hoping, but it's been a little while in between drinks.”
Gold Lightning was Schwartz's first winner in nine starts in 2023 and the 137th of his career–36 in graded stakes–outside of partnerships. His last winner at Saratoga, where he has not had many starters in recent years, was Mascha (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) July 31, 2019.
Schwartz found great success buying fillies racing in Europe and importing them to the U.S. He said he has returned to that formula and made some purchases this year. Gold Lightning came out of yearling auctions.
“I bought some in '21 and '22,” he said.
Schwartz noted, with a laugh, that about a dozen years ago he said in a magazine article that he was not going to go back into yearling market.”
“Somehow, I lost my mind and bought them again,” he said.
Gold Lightning, bred by Cypress Creek Equine LLC., is out of Acting Class by Distorted Humor.
“I'm hoping this is a start of something big,” Schwartz said. “I went back to buying horses in Europe, I was so depressed this past month. I spent a boatload of money.”
After she broke in at the start, Franco set Gold Lightning up near the rear of the field of nine. Sitting fourth, 3 1/2 lengths back, at the top of the stretch, she darted through the field willingly to get to contention and then the lead.
“She seems like she's very straightforward,” Franco said. “She did everything the right way. I just was a passenger on her today.”
1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.93, gd, 2 1/4 lengths.
GOLD LIGHTNING (f, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Acting Class, by Distorted Humor) was overlooked at the windows as a 14-1 first time starter here. The bay colt raced greenly into the first turn, but settled midpack up the backstretch. Heading into the lane, she began to uncork a strong turn of foot and passing Sassy Princess (Cairo Prince) she graduated by 2 1/4 lengths over the late running Positive Carry (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}). Acting Class was in-foal with the winner when she was sold to Bluewater for $180,000 at the '20 Keeneland November Sale. Gold Lightning is a half-sister to Classy Act (Into Mischief), MGSP, $328,443. Her dam foaled a colt May 14 by Medaglia d'Oro and she visited Keepmeinmind for next year. Sales History: $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Martin S. Schwartz; B-Cypress Creek Equine, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
Race report by J. N. Campbell
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