Gold Sweep a Standout in Saratoga’s Sanford

Many times trainers are surprised when their horse wins at first asking.

Trainer Steve Asmussen says he was surprised when his promising 2-year-old colt Gold Sweep lost his first race.

“I didn’t expect him to get beat but he lost to a real nice horse,” said Asmussen, who owns the sport’s all-time record for wins. “He might have been a bit short that day and got beat, but when the race was over we were glad we had him. It was a good effort and even though he did not win, our confidence in him did not waver. That’s why we went straight to the Tremont.”

Following that May 18 loss at Churchill Downs to Wilson Q , Gold Sweep did indeed return in the June 11 Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park and more than atoned for his initial loss by blowing away his five rivals to win by nine lengths in a dazzling Beyer Speed Figure of 91 and an Equibase Speed Figure of 94.

Up next, owner Mike McCarty’s son of Speightstown will headline a field of 10 in the $175,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds July 15 on the opening Saturday of the Saratoga Race Course season.

“It’s very exciting. He’s a nice horse. Mike McCarty, the owner, is a very nice guy and he’s very excited about it,” Asmussen said. “(Gold Sweep) is coming off a big win in the Tremont and getting to run opening week at Saratoga. What could be better?”

After losing by a neck in his five-furlong debut, the addition of an extra half-furlong was no obstacle for the son of the Giant’s Causeway mare Wonder Brew bred by Joe Anzalone. Third early on, jockey Jose Ortiz guided him to the front at the top of the stretch and in the final furlong his margin grew from 2 1/2 lengths to nine as he crossed the wire in 1:03.47.

Handling Saturday’s six-furlong distance should not pose an extreme problem for Gold Sweep whose Beyer Figure of 75 in the maiden race was eight points higher than the top figure posted by any of the other nine starters.

“We’re very confident in who he is and how he acts and his ability, but there’s nothing but respect for who you get to go against when you get to Saratoga,” Asmussen said. “The competition is what makes Saratoga so special.”

Gold Sweep was bought for $285,000 from the Indian Creek consignment at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s New York Select Yearling Sale.

Seven of the 10 starters are coming off debut wins, led by Les Wagner’s Market Street (Street Sense ), a 3 3/4-length winner of his Ellis Park debut for legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas; Back Racing, Run for LaRoses, and Magdalena Racing’s Call the Cavalry , a Florida-bred son of Khozan ; and BC Racing’s duo of Jive (St. Patrick’s Day), a Florida-bred trained by Phil Serpe, and Dickens , a Florida-bred Adios Charlie colt trained by Juan Alvarado.