LAUREL, MD – Colts Neck Stables’ homebred Goldwood, sent to post as the 6/5 favorite off of four consecutive stakes victories, cleared pacesetter Escapade in mid-stretch and held off defending champion Fire Key’s late bid to make it five straight in the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash.
With regular rider Jose Ferrer up for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr., Goldwood ($4.60) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.69 over a firm Dahlia turf course to win by a 1/2-length over Fire Key, who edged Escapade by a head for second.
Goldwood, a 5-year-old daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Medaglia d’Oro, began her streak May 18 and won a quartet of Monmouth Park stakes, never by more than 1 3/4 lengths. She now owns nine wins from 18 lifetime starts.
Escapade, who returned from a seven-month layoff with an impressive optional claiming win Aug. 3 at Laurel, blazed through fractions of 21.53, 44.53 and 55.61 seconds with Goldwood poised to her outside. Goldwood forged a short lead approaching the finish as Fire Key joined the leaders on the far outside.
“This filly is doing great. The horse in front went fast, but she likes to be close to the pace,” Ferrer said. “About 25 yards before the first wire she started to accelerate, and from the first wire to the second wire she was just rolling.”
