Strike the Gold, winner of the 1991 Kentucky Derby, has died in Turkey at the
age of 23. Representatives of the Turkish Jockey Club confirmed the death
Wednesday to various trade dailies. At the time of his death, Strike the Gold
was the oldest living winner of the Run for the Roses.
Bred by Calumet Farm, Strike the Gold was the first of two Kentucky Derby
winners for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito and the late jockey Chris Antley. A
confirmed closer, the chestnut son of Alydar rallied to win the Derby by 1 3/4
lengths over future Hall of Fame inductee Best Pal. A distant sixth in the
Preakness Stakes, he was a head second in the Belmont Stakes to eventual
divisional champion Hansel.
Campaigned by B. Giles Brophy, William Condren, and Joseph Cornacchia at
three, Strike the Gold entered the Kentucky Derby following a second in the
Grade 1 Florida Derby and a three-length score in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes.
He is the last horse to date to sweep both the Blue Grass and the Kentucky
Derby.
Strike the Gold placed twice in five starts after the 1991 Belmont, running
third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes and the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
In 1992, Condren and Cornacchia bought out Brophy’s share when buying the
colt outright for $2.9 million at Fasig-Tipton New York. Strike the Gold went on
to win the Grade 1 Pimlico Special and Grade 2 Nassau County H. (G2), and placed
in three other top-level events.
Strike the Gold was retired after winning one of three starts in 1993,
accumulating a mark of 31-6-8-5, $3,457,026. He originally stood at Viner near
Midway, Kentucky, and was sold to Turkey in 1998. A highly successful stallion
in Turkey, Strike the Gold was euthanized Tuesday after breaking a fetlock while
collapsing from a heart attack.
Produced by the stakes-winning Hatchet Man mare Majestic Gold, Strike the
Gold was a full brother to multiple Grade 3 winner Greydar.