Chunk of Gold a Cinderella story at Kentucky Derby
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‘He's Got The Potential': Owen Almighty Gears Up For Fall Campaign
'He's Got The Potential': Owen Almighty Gears Up For Fall Campaign originally appeared on Paulick Report. Unraced since finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby, Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty is gearing up for an autumn campaign, reports Rankin, president of Flying Dutchmen, said on the BloodHorse Monday podcast that the colt could make his return to the races in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes on the Charles Town Classic undercard on Aug. 22, or the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23. Both races are seven furlongs with a $500,000 purse, although the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes is around two turns."Either place, I know he'll give us everything he's got. He always does," Rankin said on the BloodHorse Monday podcast. "We just want to get him started back on the right foot and get him geared up for a fall campaign. I still believe he's got the potential to be a very good 4-year-old."A son of Speightstown, the Brian Lynch trainee has three wins and two seconds in eight starts. Big Truzz, another top 3-year-old on the Flying Dutchmen roster, could make his next start in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 after a seven-length romp in the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 10, Rankin said on the more at This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
08-08-2025
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Baffert Continues To Cultivate Talent At Del Mar
How does a coach continuously produce winners? Is it luck, hard work, talent levels in the ranks, execution of the gameplan, or a combination of the previously listed? Most familiar with competition understand it is usually some of all of the above. For one Thoroughbred trainer it has been all of the aforementioned plus a great garden spot that has been excellent for cultivating young horses. Bob Baffert has long been considered one of the best in the Thoroughbred racing game. Rightfully so we must add as he has had more horses cross the finish line first in the world's most famous race (7), the Kentucky Derby, trained more Preakness winners than anyone (8), has three wins in the Belmont Stakes, and has conditioned nineteen Breeders' Cup race winners. For good measure, 'Big Race Bob' also has more Grade 1 race wins (the highest level of competition) than any trainer in the game. How has this Arizona native remained at the pinnacle of the sport since beginning his Thoroughbred conditioning career in 1991? It all begins with developing his younger talent where the surf meets the turf down at old Del Mar. Nestled just north of San Diego, this piece of Thoroughbred racing heaven has been a prime location for the Baffert barn over the years. 'There are lots of things that make Del Mar a great place for our young horses', says Baffert, who has conditioned two Triple Crown winners (American Pharoah 2015, Justify 2018). 'The weather is always good and there is very little rain which is very important. You don't miss training time and that can be a big key in development. The track is always in great shape, the atmosphere is good, and it's just a great environment to be in.' Success has been synonymous with this Hall of Fame conditioner at the Seaside Oval as he has far more Stakes wins (177) at Del Mar than any other trainer. Among those are an incredible nineteen wins in the Del Mar Futurity and eleven in the Best Pal Stakes, two of the biggest races for two-year-old males at the track founded by Bing Crosby in 1937. 'Our program puts a lot of emphasis on developing young horses', says Baffert. 'We believe in doing it the right way. Some come around quicker than others. Each horse has to be handled a little differently because like any athlete, some develop quicker mentally and physically than others. Being patient is very important with all of them. Authentic is a good example of a horse we didn't run at Del Mar in the summer of his two-year-old year because he just was not ready. At three he won the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic.' Developing young talent with works and races at Del Mar every summer has long been a staple of his team's success throughout the last three plus decades. Even though he is the man with the lineup card and pencil, Baffert points to other components as mainstays for his team's success. 'I am very fortunate to have clients that want to run in and win stakes races', says Baffert. 'They give me the freedom to pick the horses we purchase and buying the right horses is where it all begins. Our goal is always to run in the biggest races across the entire country and go in with a real chance to win. Having great people around me and backing me is most important. And it also is fantastic to get those young horses going at a great place like Del Mar.' The Bob Baffert barn will send two runners to post in the grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Saturday, August 9. St. Petersburg will break from gate 3 and Desert Gate breaks from the 5 hole in the six furlong race over the Del Mar dirt.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Yahoo
Chunk Of Gold Sparkles In Gate-To-Wire West Virginia Derby Romp
Chunk Of Gold Sparkles In Gate-To-Wire West Virginia Derby Romp originally appeared on Paulick Report. Chunk of Gold, wearing blinkers for the first time, capitalized on a poor start by heavily favored East Avenue, both starters in the Kentucky Derby (G1) this spring, and led from start to finish in the Sunday's $400,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino, Resort and Races. Trained by Ethan West for owner Terry Stephens, Chunk of Gold won for the second time in his seven-race career after collecting three second-place finishes in graded stakes. He was the second choice at 2-1 in a field of eight in the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds. 'Winning this race means a lot,' said Jareth Loveberry, who has ridden the Preservationist colt in his last five starts. 'I rode at Mountaineer from 2009-2014. I met Ethan (West) here and we've known each other for 12 years. It's also my birthday today, which makes it extra meaningful. 'He's a very honest horse that tries every time. I was planning to be close early in the race, but when East Avenue didn't make the lead, we took his spot.' Chunk of Gold nursed a one-length lead over McAfee and Just a Fair Shake for more than six furlongs, then opened his lead turning for home to win by 4¼ lengths in 1:50.97 on a fast track. McAfee captured second, while Brotha Keny rallied well for third. East Avenue was fifth. The winner paid $6.80. 'It was fantastic,' West said of the colt's performance. 'All the credit goes to Jareth. He rode a great race. We had hoped to be close early, so we added blinkers to get him to be more responsive. But after the start, Jareth basically walked the dog.' 'It's exciting,' said Stephens, who had a large group on hand for the race. "He has run very well in graded stakes and it's nice to see him win one. I'm happy for the horse, the trainer and all the connections. I'm very proud.' Chunk of Gold was bred in Kentucky by late former Kentucky Governor Brereton C. was produced by the Cairo Prince mare Play for Gold. He was ninth, just behind eighth-place finisher East Avenue, in the Kentucky Derby after a trio of seconds in Derby preps: the Leonatus Jan. 18 at Turfway Park, the Risen Star (G2) Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds, and the Louisiana Derby (G2) March 22 at the New Orleans track. He entered Sunday's race off a runner-up finish in the Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown. The $246,400 winner's share of the West Virginia Derby purse elevated his career earnings to $695,218. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
