Lochte golden in G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
With the Winter Olympics in full force, Medaglia d'Oro's four-year-old son Lochte fittingly took his own gold February 9 with a magnificent win in the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.
After drawing away in an Allowance last time out at Gulfstream January 24, Lochte made his Black type debut a memorable one. In the 1800m event Lochte comfortably settled in an ideal stalking spot along the rail in third. At the top of the lane the son of Medaglia d'Oro slipped along the inside to take the lead and opened up in the stretch for a strong five-length win. Teofilo five-year-old Amira's Prince finished strongly for third.
Bred in Kentucky by Maura Gittins, Lochte was a $475,000 yearling at Saratoga. He is out of the Stakes-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Kiss, who is a full-sister to multiple Graded Stakes winner Kiss The Kid.
Lochte marks the 10th G1 winner for his sire Medaglia d'Oro who is also the sire of Horse Of The Year Rachel Alexandra, multiple G1 winner Marketing Mix, and G1 Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty. His talented G1-winning colts include Violence, Passion For Gold, and Warrior's Reward. Medaglia d'Oro's oldest Australian-bred progeny are now two-year-olds and include debut Flemington winner Nostradamus who finished an unlucky fourth in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on Saturday.
Medaglia d'Oro will be represented by just one yearling at the Melbourne Premier yearling sale later this month in lot 203, a colt out of Champion South African filly Warning Zone, while he has 10 lots entered for the Inglis Easter yearling sale.