Holding Gold (Lonhro {Aus}) tackled pacesetting Too Discreet (Discreet Cat) at the eighth pole, then battled on gamely to just hold out a late bid from Commend (War Front) to take a very contentious renewal of the Quick Call S., the Thursday afternoon feature at Saratoga.
The homebred, the first black-type winner produced by Charlotte Weber's 2005 GI Gazelle S. winner and that year's GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up, had finished worse than second just once in his five-race career, a distant fifth to Exaggerator (Curlin) in this track's GII Saratoga Special S. last year. Winner of an Apr. 10 allowance over the Woodbine Tapeta track, the bay was runner-up to Noholdingback Bear (Put It Back) in the Tom Ridge S. at Presque Isle May 23 and filled the same spot in a seven-furlong turf dash against his elders back in Toronto June 25.
Sent off the 7-5 chalk, Holding Gold raced handy to the pace set by Too Discreet and ranged up outside that one as Commend advanced three deep into the lane. They raced three across the track into the final furlong, with Holding Gold taking a narrow advantage shortly thereafter, and although he hopped onto his right lead in the waning strides, he managed to get to the wire a long head better than Commend.
“He's a pretty nice horse,” said winning trainer Mark Casse, fresh off his induction into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame Wednesday. “My biggest concern was a little bit of the cutback, but I felt pretty good down the backside we were only a length or two behind. He's a home-bred for Mrs. Weber so that makes it even more special. He's probably going to stay on this surface.”
In the Gold was purchased by bloodstock agent Stephen Hillen for $230,000 in foal to Elusive Quality at the 2013 Keeneland November sale and produced a filly by the Darley stallion in January 2014. Exported to Australia, she was covered by 2013 G1 Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Derby hero Akeed Mofeed (GB) in his first year at stud at Pan Sutong's Goldin Farms and foaled a colt by that son of Dubawi (Ire) in August 2015. She was bred back to Akeed Mofeed last year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
QUICK CALL S., $100,000, SAR, 8-4, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:01.84, fm.
1–#HOLDING GOLD, 117, c, 3, by Lonhro (Aus)
1st Dam: In the Gold (GISW, $745,617), by Golden Missile
2nd Dam: Incinerate, by Groovy
3rd Dam: Horsafire, by Hold Your Peace
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Mark E Casse; J-Julien R Leparoux. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, $148,512.
2–Commend, 115, c, 3, War Front–Praise, by Mr. Prospector. O/B-Claiborne Farm & Adele B Dilschneider (KY); T-William I Mott. $20,000.[bullet ad=”holly-hill-training-center-shell”]3–Too Discreet, 121, c, 3, Discreet Cat–To Marquet, by Marquetry. O/B-Patricia A Generazio (NY); T-Christophe Clement. $10,000.
Margins: HD, 1, 3/4. Odds: 1.40, 4.50, 2.35.
Also Ran: Expected Ruler, Don't Be So Salty, Bust Another, Save the Drama, Tiz Long Gone. Scratched: Sudden Surprise.
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