Go for Gin
Encyclopedia
Go for Gin is an American
thoroughbred
racehorse
best known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby
. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. For his Derby win, Chris McCarron
was his jockey, who had previously won the Kentucky Derby on Alysheba
.
Born in Kentucky
in 1991, he was bred by Pamela duPont Darmstadt and trained by Nick Zito
, who also trained 1991 Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold
.
In 1995, Go for Gin suffered a small tear of a tendon sheath in his left foreleg while working out at Belmont Park
. This precipitated his retirement to stud.
, he never achieved a win again, losing nine races after his last victory at the Kentucky Derby.
at 2.20, Brocco
at 4.30, Tabasco Cat
at 6.10, and Strodes Creek at 7.90. Go for Gin started by ducking out, forcing Tabasco Cat into Brocco. By the 1/4 mile pole, Go for Gin had reached 2nd place behind Ulises. At the 1/2 mile pole, Go for Gin had captured the lead by half a length. As he entered the stretch, he'd increased the lead to four lengths. Strodes Creek and Blumin Affair both made late charges, closing the gap some but not enough to close. Go for Gin finished with a time of 2:03.72. He won by two lengths, and netted US$628,800 for the victory. Of note, Tabasco Cat finished in sixth place in this race, but went on to win that year's other two legs of the triple crown. Go for Gin placed second in both of those races.
in 1995 at Claiborne Farm
in Kentucky. In 2004, he was sold to Bonita Farm in Darlington, Maryland
. His stud feed as of 2007 is US$4000. He is the sire of Albert the Great, who retired with lifetime winnings in excess of US$3 million and has sired Nobiz Like Shobiz
. His runners have an average US$71,742 per starter. He has sired seven stakes winners. In total, Go for Gin offspring have netted more than US$22 million in career winnings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
best known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. For his Derby win, Chris McCarron
Chris McCarron
Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network....
was his jockey, who had previously won the Kentucky Derby on Alysheba
Alysheba
Alysheba was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won two legs of the Triple Crown in 1987. A successful sire, he produced 11 stakes winners....
.
Born in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1991, he was bred by Pamela duPont Darmstadt and trained by Nick Zito
Nick Zito
Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...
, who also trained 1991 Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold
Strike the Gold
Strike the Gold is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1991 Kentucky Derby. Upon the death of 1987 Derby winner Alysheba in March 2009, Strike the Gold became the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner....
.
In 1995, Go for Gin suffered a small tear of a tendon sheath in his left foreleg while working out at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. This precipitated his retirement to stud.
Racing history
In total, Go for Gin started 19 races, winning five and running in the money 14 times. Though he challenged for the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingTriple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, he never achieved a win again, losing nine races after his last victory at the Kentucky Derby.
1994 Kentucky Derby
The 120th Kentucky Derby was held on May 7, 1994 and featured a sloppy track. The race set off at 5:34 p.m. local time. Go for Gin entered the race at 9.10:1 odds, behind Holy BullHoly Bull
Holy Bull is an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Great Above, whose dam was the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly Ta Wee.-Race History:...
at 2.20, Brocco
Brocco
Brocco is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred at the LaCroix family's Meadowbrook Farms near Ocala, he was purchased and raced by Albert R. Broccoli, the producer of the iconic James Bond films....
at 4.30, Tabasco Cat
Tabasco Cat
Tabasco Cat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was best known for his performances in 1994 when he won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, the second and third legs of the Triple Crown Series.-Background:...
at 6.10, and Strodes Creek at 7.90. Go for Gin started by ducking out, forcing Tabasco Cat into Brocco. By the 1/4 mile pole, Go for Gin had reached 2nd place behind Ulises. At the 1/2 mile pole, Go for Gin had captured the lead by half a length. As he entered the stretch, he'd increased the lead to four lengths. Strodes Creek and Blumin Affair both made late charges, closing the gap some but not enough to close. Go for Gin finished with a time of 2:03.72. He won by two lengths, and netted US$628,800 for the victory. Of note, Tabasco Cat finished in sixth place in this race, but went on to win that year's other two legs of the triple crown. Go for Gin placed second in both of those races.
Race Record at age 3
- Won Preview StakesHoly Bull StakesThe Holy Bull Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Run in mid April, it is open to three-year-olds over a distance of one mile and three sixteenths...
- Won Kentucky Derby
- 2nd at Preakness StakesPreakness StakesThe Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
- 2nd at Belmont StakesBelmont StakesThe Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
- 2nd at Fountain of Youth StakesFountain of Youth StakesThe Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $400,000...
- 2nd at Wood Memorial StakesWood Memorial StakesThe Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
- 3rd at Forego Stakes
History at stud
Go for Gin was retired to studStud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
in 1995 at Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
in Kentucky. In 2004, he was sold to Bonita Farm in Darlington, Maryland
Darlington, Maryland
Darlington is an unincorporated village in northeastern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1987 with approximately 100 contributing properties .-Community:Local children attend the Darlington Elementary...
. His stud feed as of 2007 is US$4000. He is the sire of Albert the Great, who retired with lifetime winnings in excess of US$3 million and has sired Nobiz Like Shobiz
Nobiz Like Shobiz
Nobiz Like Shobiz is an American Thoroughbred racehorse, who during his three-year-old season was considered a top contender for the 2007U.S. Triple Crown series of races...
. His runners have an average US$71,742 per starter. He has sired seven stakes winners. In total, Go for Gin offspring have netted more than US$22 million in career winnings.
Post-Retirement
On August 11, 2011, Go for Gin moved to the Kentucky Horse Park, an equine industry showplace in Lexington, Kentucky. Along with KyHorsePark stablemates, including Cigar and Funny Cide, he will greet visitors daily.Pedigree
External links
- Listing at Bonita Farms
- Go for Gin's Derby, including video of race.
- Pedigree at Pedigree Online
- Post-Retirement at KyHorsePark