Adam Coglianese
Chester and Mary Broman’s second-generation homebred Bar of Gold (5-2 second choice) secured the couple’s seventh win of the Saratoga meet when she overcame a slow start and held off a late charge to score a victory over nine rivals in a maiden special weight dirt sprint for state-bred 2-year-old fillies
Trained by John Kimmel and exiting post ten under Junior Alvarado, Bar of Gold broke last after a bobble and ultimately spotted the vanguard as much as half a dozen lengths by the time she settled in eighth. Meanwhile second-time starter Saluda set the pace, clocking a swift early quarter-mile in 22.17.
Bar of Gold improved her position in the backstretch while favorite The Lewis Dinner challenged the pacesetter, then began her bid in earnest in upper stretch.
Angling in toward the rail and moving into contention, Bar of Gold passed The Lewis Dinner inside the final furlong and shook clear of her rival. She then dug in gamely to hold off a fast-closing Irish Heroine to get the victory by three-quarters of a length. Bar of Gold stopped the clock at 1:05.88 after 5 1/2 furlongs over the good going. [VIDEO]
A beautiful dark bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Bar of Gold is the first foal out of Khancord Kid, a Broman homebred by Lemon Drop Kid, also trained by Kimmel, who captured the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes on turf at Gulfstream Park turf in 2010. Chester Broman purchased Khancord Kid’s dam Confidently, an unraced daughter of Storm Cat, at Keeneland’s 2000 January sale of horses of all ages for $1 million.
Kimmel said, “[Bar of Gold’s] sire [Medaglia d’Oro] is a distance horse and her mother [Khancord Kid] won a Grade 3 on the turf. She is really bred to run on grass and longer.” Kimmel had complete confidence, however, in a dirt sprint debut for the filly. “She’s been breezing very well in the morning. She’s kind of quick.”
Mary Broman was all smiles in the winner’s circle when asked about the success she and her husband were enjoying at Saratoga this summer with their New York-bred homebreds. “We’re enjoying it!” she said. “We’ve been doing this for many years and this is the best I think we’ve done.”
