Golden Missile
Encyclopedia
Golden Missile is a multi-millionaire American Thoroughbred
racehorse and successful sire. Bred in Kentucky
by W. Bruce Lunsford and raced under the Adena Springs banner for owner Frank Stronach
, he had a record of 25: 7-7-4 with career earnings of $
2,194,510. Golden Missile was best known for his wins in the grade one Pimlico Special
and the grade two Stephen Foster Handicap
.
. Then he made headlines and drew attention by winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs by 8½ lengths. He followed that up win in a nine furlong turf race in the Cumberland Stakes at Ellis Park
winning by 5 lengths. He record as a three year-old was (5): 3-1-1 for annual earnings of $90,470.
at nine furlongs over Early Warning, Sir Bear. He then took sime time off and was freshened until summer. On the New Jersey beach, Golden Missile won his first start back at Monmouth Park Racetrack
and won the $80,000 Skip Away Stakes by 7½ lengths. In August he shipped up to Saratoga and placed third in the $300,000 grade two Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
behind Running Stag and Catienus. Then in September he had a good solid performance in the $500,000 grade three Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap
, being nipped at wire by British invader Supreme Sound by a nose. Stronach and Orseno then decided to take on the world by entering Golden Missile in North America's richest race, the $4,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic
. He finished third in the grade one Classic to Cat Thief and Budroyale earning a show check for $364,000 that day. He finished 1999 with a record of (9): 2-2-2 for annual earnings of $838,240.
to Stephen Got Even by a half length. In the fall of 2000 Golden Missile had a series of solid performances which included a runner-up performance to Captain Steve
by 3/4 of a length in the $500,000 grade two Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap at Turfway Park
; a third place finish in the $500,000 grade three Hawthorne Gold Cup in Chicago, Illinois at Hawthorne Race Course
and a runner-up finish to Yankee Victor in the grade three Westchester Handicap
in New York at Aqueduct Racetrack
.
But it was his wins in the summer of 2000 that Golden Missile will best be remembered for and those signature wins in the Pimlico Special Handicap and the Stephen Foster Handicap that propelled him from a good horse to a very good horse competing to be a candidate for the Eclipse Award
for older male horse. In May 2000 Golden Missile went off as the 9-2 fourth choice in a field of nine graded stakes winners that competed in the $750,000 grade one Pimlico Special
Handicap in Baltimore, Maryland at Pimlico Race Course
. He broke slow as the gates opened and was next to last passing the stands for the first time as Cat Thief
, Budroyale and favorite K One King led. Jockey Kent Desormeaux
asked Golden Missile for a little run early and by the time they hit that famous clubhouse turn at Old Hilltop he was placed third on the outside. Going down the backstretch three horses fought nose to nose on the front end including Cat Thief, Budroyale and Golden Missile. Coming out of the far turn and into the stretch Golden Missile pulled ahead of Cat Thief as Lemon Drop Kid
and Almutawakel
charged around the outside. As they neared the finish Golden Missile pulled ahead and won going away by three lengths in front of Lemon Drop Kid and Present Breeze.
Then just five weeks later Golden Missile beat Ecton Park and Cat Thief again at Churchill Downs
to win the grade two Stephen Foster Handicap
by 2-2/4 lengths. He finished his five year-old season earning more than one million dollars with a record of (10): 2-3-1 for an annual profit of $1,261,700.
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 and successful sire. Bred 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...
by W. Bruce Lunsford and raced under the Adena Springs banner for owner Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
, he had a record of 25: 7-7-4 with career earnings of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2,194,510. Golden Missile was best known for his wins in the grade one Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
and the grade two Stephen Foster Handicap
Stephen Foster Handicap
The Stephen Foster Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in mid-June near the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky...
.
Two year-old season
Golden Missile only raced one time as a two year old finishing second and earning $4,100 for the year.Three year-old season
At age three Golden Missile was a modest horse showing some signs of improving, he won his first race by 2½ lengths in a maiden special weight at Hialeah Park Race TrackHialeah Park Race Track
The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
. Then he made headlines and drew attention by winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs by 8½ lengths. He followed that up win in a nine furlong turf race in the Cumberland Stakes at Ellis Park
Ellis Park
Ellis Park may refer to:* Ellis Park Stadium, also known by its sponsored name of Coca-Cola Park, is a stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa* Ellis Park Racecourse, a thoroughbred horse race track in Henderson, Kentucky...
winning by 5 lengths. He record as a three year-old was (5): 3-1-1 for annual earnings of $90,470.
Four year-old season
As a four year-old, Golden Missile started his campaign at Hialeah in March 1999 and won the grade three Widener HandicapWidener Handicap
The Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida was a Grade III stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses 3-years-old and up. It was run over a distance of 1¼ miles until 1993 when it was modified to 1 1/8 miles. Initially called the Widener Challenge Cup Handicap, the race was...
at nine furlongs over Early Warning, Sir Bear. He then took sime time off and was freshened until summer. On the New Jersey beach, Golden Missile won his first start back at Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.Monmouth Park's marquee event...
and won the $80,000 Skip Away Stakes by 7½ lengths. In August he shipped up to Saratoga and placed third in the $300,000 grade two Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap was, until it was discontinued in 2005, a Thoroughbred race for horses three-years-old and up run at Saratoga Race Course...
behind Running Stag and Catienus. Then in September he had a good solid performance in the $500,000 grade three Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap
Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap
The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois each year. The Hawthorne Gold Cup trophy has always been made of solid gold....
, being nipped at wire by British invader Supreme Sound by a nose. Stronach and Orseno then decided to take on the world by entering Golden Missile in North America's richest race, the $4,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
. He finished third in the grade one Classic to Cat Thief and Budroyale earning a show check for $364,000 that day. He finished 1999 with a record of (9): 2-2-2 for annual earnings of $838,240.
Five year-old season
In his five year-old season Golden Missile really came into top form and became one of the best handicap horses in the country in 2000. In February of that year he placed second in the $500,000 grade one Donn HandicapDonn Handicap
The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
to Stephen Got Even by a half length. In the fall of 2000 Golden Missile had a series of solid performances which included a runner-up performance to Captain Steve
Captain Steve
Captain Steve is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Roger Laubach, owned by Michael E. Pegram, and trained by Bob Baffert...
by 3/4 of a length in the $500,000 grade two Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap at Turfway Park
Turfway Park
Turfway Park is an American horse racing track located just outside the city limits to the north of Florence, Kentucky, about 10 miles south of the Ohio River at Cincinnati...
; a third place finish in the $500,000 grade three Hawthorne Gold Cup in Chicago, Illinois at Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course
Hawthorne Race Course is a race track for horse racing in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, near Chicago.The oldest continually-run family-owned racetrack in North America, in 2009 the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America...
and a runner-up finish to Yankee Victor in the grade three Westchester Handicap
Westchester Handicap
The Westchester Handicap is a one mile thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York. It is run in early May for horses three years old and up. It is a Grade III race with a purse of $100,000 added....
in New York at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
.
But it was his wins in the summer of 2000 that Golden Missile will best be remembered for and those signature wins in the Pimlico Special Handicap and the Stephen Foster Handicap that propelled him from a good horse to a very good horse competing to be a candidate for the Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
for older male horse. In May 2000 Golden Missile went off as the 9-2 fourth choice in a field of nine graded stakes winners that competed in the $750,000 grade one Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
Handicap in Baltimore, Maryland at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. He broke slow as the gates opened and was next to last passing the stands for the first time as Cat Thief
Cat Thief
Cat Thief is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Regally bred, he is the son of Storm Cat, an outstanding Champion sire and the grandson of both the 20th Century's most important sire, Northern Dancer and whose damsire was the legendary U.S. Triple Crown champion, Secretariat. Cat Thief's dam was...
, Budroyale and favorite K One King led. Jockey Kent Desormeaux
Kent Desormeaux
Kent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...
asked Golden Missile for a little run early and by the time they hit that famous clubhouse turn at Old Hilltop he was placed third on the outside. Going down the backstretch three horses fought nose to nose on the front end including Cat Thief, Budroyale and Golden Missile. Coming out of the far turn and into the stretch Golden Missile pulled ahead of Cat Thief as Lemon Drop Kid
Lemon Drop Kid
Lemon Drop Kid is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:He is among many stakes-winning Thoroughbreds to be descended from Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Seattle Slew is the son of, Charming Lassie. Kingmambo was his sire, himself a son of the very important Champion sire Mr...
and Almutawakel
Almutawakel
Almutawakel was a British Thoroughbred racehorse sired by Machiavellian and the Irish stakes-winning Green Desert mare, Elfaslah.Almutawakel's most prominent victory came in the 1999 Dubai World Cup...
charged around the outside. As they neared the finish Golden Missile pulled ahead and won going away by three lengths in front of Lemon Drop Kid and Present Breeze.
Then just five weeks later Golden Missile beat Ecton Park and Cat Thief again at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
to win the grade two Stephen Foster Handicap
Stephen Foster Handicap
The Stephen Foster Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in mid-June near the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky...
by 2-2/4 lengths. He finished his five year-old season earning more than one million dollars with a record of (10): 2-3-1 for an annual profit of $1,261,700.