Alma d'Oro too good in the Forty Niner Stakes

Durable four-year-old Medaglia d'Oro entire Alma d’Oro has really come into his own through his 11 starts in 2010, and added the Listed Forty Niner Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday December 19 with ridiculous ease to cap off his stellar year.

He has won two of his last three races, all in Stakes company, and but for a neck, would have won three of his last four starts for his connections.

During the 1600m race on the inner track, Alma d’Oro settled on the rail behind the leaders and moved up so comfortably on the backstretch he had to be taken in hand again by jockey Javier Castellano. Travelling so well, the bay colt didn’t make a move until well into the home straight, then exploded past his rivals to win by four-and-a-half lengths.

Bred by Fred N. Sahadi, he is a half-brother to Stakes-placed Ford Island out of the Stakes-placed mare Brenda D S, she a half-sister to Stakes winners Daniel’s Boy, Nicholas DS, Emma D and Joyce D. Alma d’Oro is inbred to the great Natalma 4 X 5 through Northern Dancer on his sire, Medaglia d'Oro’s side, and Nostrum, his dam’s broodmare sire.

Alma d’Oro was the 20th Stakes winner for Medaglia d’Oro when he won the Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial Stakes back in October. Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of 13 other stakes winners in 2010 alone, including reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and G1 winners Warrior’s Reward, Champagne d’Oro and Gabby’s Golden Gal.

Having almost finished covering his first southern hemisphere book of mares, the son of El Prado covered the likes of Stakes winners or Stakes producers Vocabulary, My Tusker, Chinchilla Rose, Leona Chiara, Halibery, Kylikwong, Shamekha, Rinky Dink, Romneya, Shindig and One World, to name but a few.