Tag: Shared News

Cancer Survivor Al Gold Stops and Smells the Roses with Cyberknife

LOUISVILLE, KY – Prostate Cancer Awareness Month isn't until September, but owner Al Gold will be getting a head start on the first Saturday in May.

Named after Accuray Inc's robotic radiation therapy used to successfully treat the 66-year-old's prostate cancer, Gold's Cyberknife (Gun Runner) continues to generate plenty of positive chatter leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby.

“At the end of the day, the Derby is exciting and very important, but it pales in comparison to helping people become aware of the power of CyberKnife in treating cancer,” Gold said. “That's why I've done a lot of interviews about it. I'd like to get it out there so people know.”

Gold, now in remission and “enjoying life as a retired person” while splitting time between Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and Del Ray Beach, Fl., received his first CyberKnife treatment on his 65th birthday last year. The non-invasive procedure–there's no incision involved despite the name–“is specifically designed to deliver radiation beams from potentially thousands of unique angles, targeting only the tumor while minimizing radiation dose to healthy tissue.”

“When someone tells you that you have cancer, it gives you fear and obviously makes you very nervous,” Gold said. “But this was such an easy procedure to get through–five, 18-minute treatments every other day and it was over. It's a wonderful thing. A lot of people have died from prostate cancer, but now it's easily diagnosed and treated.”

Trained by Brad Cox and always held in high regard, the four-legged Cyberknife has certainly done his part to help spread the word as well. Still learning the ropes while sixth in the GIII Lecomte S., the chestnut has put it all together in two subsequent starts. He punched his ticket to Louisville with a breakthrough win in the GI Arkansas Derby, the first ever at the top level for Gold.

Hailing from the first crop of sensational young sire Gun Runner, Cyberknife brought $400,000 from advisor Joe Hardoon on behalf of Gold at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase. Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Cyberknife is out of six-time stakes winner and multiple graded placed Awesome Flower (Flower Alley). He hails from the family of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed (Tiznow).

“I had been in five or six Grade I races before and never hit the board, so I was cautiously optimistic going in [to the Arkansas Derby],” said Gold, who made his living in real estate management. “He ran beautifully and won the race. I had quality horses that I thought were going to be Derby potential, but it never materialized. Now, we're all excited about going to Kentucky.”

Racing under the nom-de-course of Gold Square LLC since 2004, Gold and his wife Hilary have also campaigned graded winners Chace City (Carson City) and Little Miss Holly (Maria's Mon). The native of New Jersey has approximately 15-20 horses in training, including a pair of recent OBS Spring acquisitions–a $220,000 Awesome Slew filly and a $140,000 Kantharos colt. In addition to Cox, Gold also employs trainers Jorge Abreu, Steve Asmussen, Tony Dutrow and Chad Summers.

“You want to keep pursuing your passion and what you love in life,” Gold concluded. “I've had some good horses and some bad horses, but you have to just keep on trying to get to the point where I am now. Hopefully, I'm building a quality stable and I'm going to the Kentucky Derby. What else can I ask for? This is the height of the game.”

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Insight Outcomes: Love Reigns Supreme

With juvenile racing heating up, three of our featured horses this past week won, all on debut. In addition, Coolmore Ireland's U S Navy Flag became the first freshman sire of the season to record a 'TDN Rising Star' on American soil, although fellow freshman Kessaar (Ire) got one a fortnight previously at Newmarket.

TUESDAY'S INSIGHTS: Well-Related Goldencents Firster Right To the Races
3rd-Parx Racing, $47,208, Msw, 4-26, 2yo, 2f, :23.27, ft, 1 length.
FERRARI KID (c, 2, Goldencents–Catch the Flag, by A.P. Indy) won this baby sprint at first asking, but that might not be the biggest update to his pedigree in the next week as his half-sister produced 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), who is set to break from post six in Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby. Ferrari Kid was a $100,000 buy at OBS March by Richard Malouf after working in :21 1/5. Trained by Scott Lake for this Quarter Horse-like debut, the bay shot to the lead to win by a driving length under a vigorous ride. His unraced dam is out of Canadian champion Catch the Ring (Seeking the Gold). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

FRIDAY'S INSIGHTS: U S Navy Flag Filly Debuts for Ward & Stonestreet Stables
2nd-Keeneland, $51,276, Msw, 4-29, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.33, fm, 9 3/4 lengths.
Debuts don't come much more impressively than the unveiling of LOVE REIGNS (IRE) (f, 2, U S Navy Flag–Humble And Proud {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), who motored to the front and dared the others to catch her. With an efficient stride that hinted at the ability to do much more if asked, the bay–the third winner for her MG1SW freshman sire (by War Front)–was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' after posting a 9 3/4-length victory. A half to 2018 GI Sword Dancer S. winner Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), the winner was a €160,000 Goffs Orby purchase for Stonestreet. Love Reigns topped an Irish-bred, Wesley Ward-trained exacta, as his Rivka (Ire) (No Nay Never) was the runner-up. In third was Delight (Mendelssohn), who closed from last to overcome a rough and intimidating trip for the show. The Jonathan Thomas pupil was a $400,000 OBS March purchase by Augustin Stable after a :10 1/5 work. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

5th-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-29, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.93, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
DOMINICAN PIONEER (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Heatherdoesntbluff, by Old Trieste) donned cap and gown to become the third consecutive 'Insighted' horse to win. Always part of the early fray, the dark bay took command at the sixteenth pole and pulled clear late to win with authority. The R T Racing Stable colorbearer helped push trainer Wesley Ward to his sixth Keeneland Spring Meet title. The winner, a $325,000 Keeneland September purchase, is a half to GISW Killer Graces (Congaree) and to MGSW Chocolate Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

SUNDAY'S INSIGHTS: Seven-Figure Shadwell Buy Debuts
4th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.51, fm, neck.
Christophe Clement's CANISY (f, 3, Point of Entry–Soother, by Rahy) played spoiler to featured Contemporary Art (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sahlabiya (Medaglia d'Oro). The trio of debuters all raced closely together in midpack, took varying paths to the front, and emerged from the fray with only each other as valid threats. In the end, it was Canisy by a neck over Contemporary Art, who had a neck on Sahlabiya. The winner campaigns for Blue Devil Racing Stable and is a half to MSW, GSP, and Saratoga course record setter Carotari (Artie Schiller). The runner-up is a Bobby Flay homebred and the first foal out of GSW and $1.6-million Fasig-Tipton November purchase Cover Song (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The mare is out of European champion Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), making her a half to European champion U S Navy Flag (War Front), sire of the above-mentioned 'TDN Rising Star' Love Reigns, and to British MG1SW and 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front). Trifecta bookend Sahlabiya was a $1.6-million purchase at Keeneland September for Shadwell Stable. Half-brother and 'TDN Rising Star' Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) brought $1.1 million at the same sale three years earlier and is a graded winner in England. The top three all ran extremely well on debut against a more seasoned field, proved they were each up for a fight, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see any or all of them do bigger things down the line. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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TDN Snippets: Week of Apr. 25 – May 1

This week shed tears of sadness as we bid farewell to a fan favorite, and enjoyed a tonic of elation as we regaled a historic riding double and the newest 'Star' on the horizon. Break out the tissues for the sensitive souls, and join us as we reminisce careers, and revere achievements.

Botta Bing, Botta Swing–to Rising Stardom…
If there was a louder and prouder way to declare one's talent to the world, 'TDN Rising Star' Botta Swing (Not This Time) came close to topping it. Continuing her sire's hot streak, the filly was in such a hurry on debut that she not only spanked the boys in the field but lowered the track record in the process. That's some razzle dazzle for a $160,000 KEESEP dream.

The Doyler…
Jockey James Doyle enjoyed a memorable weekend winning the 2000 Guineas (Godolphin's Coroebus) and 1000 Guineas (Highclere's Cachet) at Newmarket. It was the fifth time that a jockey had completed the double in the same year since 1967: Ryan Moore (2015), Kieren Fallon (2005), Lester Piggott (1970) and George Moore (1967).

If it isn't baroque, don't fix it…
Spectacle and movement are but two aspects of a painting style heavily influenced by the great artist Caravaggio and now the namesake stallion has offered interpretations of his own. With three 'Rising Stars' —one of whom named after the artist's favorite technique— and winners in Europe, America, Japan, and now Hong Kong, the sire's influence is similarly spreading.

RIP Dortmund…
We were sad to learn recently that Dortmund (Big Brown) passed away at Korea's Great Hill Farm. Dortmund was a brilliant and imposing racehorse, who won his first six starts for Kaleem Shah and trainer Bob Baffert, including the 2015 GI Santa Anita Derby and 2014 GI Los Alamitos Futurity. He retired with a record of 16-8-2-2 and earnings of $1,987,505.

The $18-Million Stallion?…
Offered as the final hip at Friday's Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale, a share (2.5% fractional interest) in Airdrie Stud's Upstart was hammered down for $450,000 to Mike Freeny, who operates Dunquin Farm in Paris, Kentucky, with his wife Pat. By those figures, it values the young stallion at a cool 18 mill. Get out the bubble wrap, Bret, Ben and team!

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Backside Learning Center Has Vested Interest in Derby

Edited Press Release

The Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs stands to gain anywhere between $200,000 and $400,000 based on the results of Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby beneath the Twin Spires.

In January, Brook Smith–a longtime supporter of the BLC–placed a $10,000 Kentucky Derby Future Wager on Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb), pledging any winnings to the center. A Derby victory would be worth $114,000.

Smith's wager was a friendly challenge to Texas-based businessman and famed sports bettor “Mattress Mack” Jim McIngvale's Future Wager bet for the same amount on Smile Happy, a son of McIngvale's 2015 champion sprinter and current Claiborne Farm stallion Runhappy. The BLC used Smith's largesse as an opportunity to reach out to McIngvale, the Houston furniture magnate as famous for his philanthropy as he is his huge Gallery Furniture promotions tied to the outcome of famous sporting events.

“We wanted to engage him in our important mission of providing support and resources to the entire community of track workers and their families,” said Sherry Stanley, executive director of the BLC. “McIngvale's been a significant supporter of equine workers all over the country in the past. He was immediately interested in connecting with the BLC. We are thrilled to have Jim as a new high-profile advocate for our work.”

“Mattress Mack” appeared as a special guest at the BLC'S “Thoroughbred Owners' Derby Handicapping Social”, held Apr. 14 at the downtown Louisville Thoroughbred Society. McIngvale announced at the event that if the Kentucky Derby favorite or Smile Happy were to win America's greatest horse race, he would donate $200,000 to the Backside Learning Center to sponsor summer camp experiences for children of backside workers.

“The backside has helped so many people that put their heart and soul into the horse-racing business,” McIngvale said. “If we can bring in money, resources and networks, we can help the backbone of the horse-racing industry–which are these hardworking people who are taking care of the animals 24/7.”

In another twist, Smith upped his ante by announcing that if any horse other than the favorite or Smile Happy win, he will make his own donation of $200,000.

At the same fundraiser, Mike Mackin, a part-owner of Smile Happy, said the ownership group would pitch in another $200,000 if their colt prevails Saturday.

“Mack said he'd give the Backside Learning Center $200,000 if Smile Happy won and I said we'd match it,” Mackin said. “I'm just starting to learn about the Backside Learning Center. But from what I've learned, they are doing great work in helping the people who care for our horses.”

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