Golden Tornado

Golden Tornado (McKinzie), sidelined since delivering a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance on debut at Saratoga last summer, is on the comeback trail. He's posted a pair of breezes for trainer Danny Gargan at Palm Meadows this winter, including a three-furlong move in :37.50 (24/43) Mar. 7. "He's a really nice horse, really nice," Gargan said. "He's come back really good. He's beautiful." Campaigned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, breeder Gainesway Stable and Legendary Thoroughbreds, the $475,000 Keeneland September yearling and half-brother to stakes winner and fellow...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Igniter (c, 2, Volatile)'s wide-trip, third-place finish behind 'TDN Rising Star' Golden Tornado (McKinzie) in a live maiden special weight at the Spa Aug. 9 on debut continues to look better every day. The runner-up Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) returned with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance on Saratoga's closing day program Sept. 1. Golden Tornado, meanwhile, is being aimed at the GI Champagne S. at Aqueduct Oct....

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Competing much like he trained, Golden Tornado (McKinzie) showed Saturday that he is a 2-year-old colt to pay attention to. While his connections were confident of his ability level, Golden Tornado made it clear that he was indeed ready for the prime time of a $100,000 maiden special weight test at the Spa with a 3 1/4-length triumph. Under Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, the bay colt owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Antony Beck's Gainesway Stable and Legendary Thoroughbreds, stalked pacesetter Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy),...

Golden Tornado (c, 2, McKinzie--Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike), a half-brother to three-for-three Maxfield S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Verifire (Authentic), earned a 'Rising Star' badge of his own with a good-looking debut victory for trainer Danny Gargan at the Spa Saturday. The $475,000 KEESEP yearling graduate secured a perfect spot in a tracking second behind favored Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) through an opening quarter in :22.76. He turned up the heat approaching the quarter pole and leveled off beautifully in the stretch to win going away with powerful...