Road to the Kentucky Derby – Alex’s Pedigree Paddock
Alex Henry | March 23rd 2024
Goal: Highlight interesting pedigrees of 2024 Kentucky Derby contenders who are also my best bets of the race.
Grade 2 Louisiana Derby | Derby Points: 100-50-25-15-10
Tuscan Gold (April 2021)
Owner: William H. Lawrence, Walmac Farm and Stonestreet Stables LLC| Breeder: (Ky) Stonestreet Stables LLC
Trainer: Chad Brown
Medaglia D’Oro o/o Valadorna by Curlin
Inbreeding: Outcrossed in 5 generations
True Nicks: A+
Fasig Tipton Keenland September Sale ’22: $600,000
Trainer Chad Brown has at least two Kentucky Derby hopefuls this year, with Domestic Product (Tampa Bay Derby winner, 60 points) and Sierra Leone (Risen Star Stakes winner, 55 points), so why not add a third with Tuscan Gold. This colt has improved drastically with distance, time, and experience. Sired by the extremely versatile globally-successful sire Medaglia d’ Oro and out of G3 winner and G1-placed Valadorna, Tuscan Gold has plenty of upside and a pedigree worth exploring further.
Medaglia d’Oro needs no introduction, however, his extreme success as a sire should be celebrated. He boasts 26 career G1 winners and is the leading active North American sire by worldwide Stakes winners. Ranging from the Hong Kong-based $21 million dollar earner and 10-time turf G1 winning champion Golden Sixty to male-beating classic-winning dirt champion Rachel Alexandra, Medaglia d’Oro is fully capable of siring runners on any surface at racing’s highest level. While a Kentucky Derby winner has eluded his illustrious stallion career so far, he could be poised to challenge the Churchill Downs winners circle with Tuscan Gold. Over $49 million in progeny earnings have been earned over dirt routes, including 17% winners at an 8.3 furlong average winning distance. A proven stamina influence on racing surfaces in both hemispheres, two turns should not be an issue for most of his offspring.
Out of Valadorna (by Curlin), G3 winner of $670,265, she provides a credible stamina influence with her family as well. Winner of the G3 Doubledogdare stakes over 8.5 furlongs, she proved valiant throughout her 4 years on the racetrack. Tuscan Gold is her first foal to race, so there are no siblings to compare at this time; however, Valadorna’s unraced dam Goldfield has produced black type winners. Champagne Stakes (8 furlongs) and Kelso Handicap (8 furlongs) winner Complexity (by Macleans’s Music) is now a sire at Airdrie Stud, King of Glory (by Ghostzapper) earned nearly $200,000 in South Korea and was third in a Listed Stakes race, and Valadorna as mentioned earlier is a Stakes winner. Goldfield’s damn Folly Dollar (by Digression) won a well-funded Handicap in Florida and was second in the G2 Distaff Breeders’ Cup Handicap (7 furlongs). She is the dam of one stakes winner, Springside (by Awesome Again), winner of the Demoiselle Stakes (9 furlongs). Of note, Springside’s most recent offspring Wants N Needs (2021, by Maclean’s Music) sold at EASMAY’23 for $180,000 and appears to be working steadily towards a maiden start at Oaklawn Park.
Tuscan Gold’s first race was contested over 1 mile on November 4th, 2023, at Aqueduct against fellow Chad Brown trainee Sierra Leone and Allowance winner Change of Command. After being bumped at the start and settling widest and last of 7 runners until the far turn, he was outkicked and squeezed out of a hole mid-stretch by his stablemate and settled for fourth. Given nearly 3 months to mature and learn how to be a racehorse, Tuscan Gold romped by 6 ¼ lengths at Gulfstream Park in a Maiden Special Weight over 8.5 furlongs on dirt. While this field was admittedly much softer than his debut, the last place finisher has returned to win of Gulfstream Park’s All-Weather surface on March 7th. What was most impressive about this run is that Tuscan Gold was again bumped soon after the start and settled sixth of seven runners until he made significant progress in the backstretch. At the head of the stretch he was hard driven to the front and drew off well with his hear pricked at the finish line. He appears to be a colt with significant upside, learning with every start. If he can learn to break straight and pass rivals who will be tiring off of what is projected to be a fast pace, Tuscan Gold may find himself draped in flowers today.
