Risk Taking added to a huge afternoon for his sire, Medaglia d’Oro, when charged to a three-and-three-quarter length victory in the G3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 6. His next likely start will be in the G2 Wood Memorial on April 3rd. Just minutes before the Withers, the three-year-old filly Moonlight d’Oro captured the G3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.
Tracking from mid-pack as Jerome Stakes winner Capo Kane (Street Sense) led the way, Risk Taking made his move on the far turn, charging from third while racing three-wide. He overhauled Capo Kane at the top of the lane before drawing off to win quite easily. Overtook got up for second, with Capo Kane having to settle for third. Final time for the nine furlongs was 1:51.91 over a fast track.
Risk Taking has now won two of four starts and has earned 10 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Chad Brown trainee broke his maiden in his prior start, when stretched out to nine furlongs and adding blinkers for the first time.
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Risk Taking is out of Run a Risk, a winning daughter of Distorted Humor. Run a Risk is a half sister to Graded Stakes winners Rey de Café (G3 Hill Prince, etc.) and El Crespo (G3 Palm Beach Stakes) and to the Listed winner, Tricky Causeway.
Medaglia d’Oro is off to a hot start in 2021, with three Graded Stakes winners so far. Leading the way is Golden Sixty, winner of the G1 Stewards’ Cup in Hong Kong. In addition to the Withers winner, Medaglia d’Oro is represented by the aforementioned Moonlight d'Oro, winner of the G3 Las Virgenes. Also, another three-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro, the impressive debut winner Prevalence, will try the G2 Fountain of Youth on February 27th, following his eight and one-half length maiden win in January (89 Beyer).
Medaglia d'Oro will stand the 2021 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for a fee of $150,000, stands and nurses.
