Godolphin’s homebred filly, Good Cheer, capped off a tremendous day for her sire, Medaglia d’Oro, as she charged from off the pace to win the $1.5 million G1 Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday, 2 May.
Good Cheer provided an excellent bookend for her indomitable sire, whose daughter, Nitrogen, started off the Graded Stakes action at Churchill Downs with a victory in the G2 Edgewood Stakes on the turf. Good Cheer became the third Kentucky Oaks winner sired by Medaglia d’Oro, joining Rachel Alexandra (2009) and Plum Pretty (2011).
Good Cheer broke cleanly under jockey Luis Saez and was settled in mid-division as G1 Ashland Stakes winner La Cara (Street Sense) battled G2 Santa Anita Oaks winner Tenma (Nyquist) for the early lead. Good Cheer was given her cue on the far turn, responding with an impressive six-wide sweep to roll past her rivals and take command. She continued to pull away through the stretch, eventually crossing the wire two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of the late-closing Drexel Hill. Bless the Broken got up for third.
Good Cheer was bred in Kentucky and is out of the multiple G1-winning Street Sense mare, Wedding Toast. During her racing career for Godolphin, Wedding Toast captured both the G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes and G1 Beldame, in addition to winning the G2 Ruffian and G3 Comely. In addition to Good Cheer, Wedding Toast is also the dam of the Stakes-winning colt, Ya Hayati (by Dubawi).
In addition to Good Cheer and Nitrogen, Medaglia d’Oro is also responsible for Spirit of St Louis, winner of the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, who is scheduled to start in the G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.
Medaglia d’Oro is standing the 2025 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $75,000, stands and nurses.
