Strike the Gold, the 1991 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner who stands at stud in Turkey, sired his second winner of the Turkish Oaks (Tur-I) when his daughter Balcibin captured the 1 5/16-mile turf race June 5 at Istanbul Veliefendi Racecourse, according to a Jockey Club of Turkey release. The victory, for owner Nurbiye Gulerce, made up for a fourth-place finish in the One Thousand Guineas (Tur-I) May 15 over the same course.
Tracking the leader on the outside from the break, jockey Gokhan Gokce turned up the pace aboard Balcibin from halfway around the last turn with four furlongs to run. Once in front Bancibin remained relatively unthreatened until Best Of Muge and One Thousand Guineas (Tur-I) winner Seker Remziye challenged near the end. Balcibin withstood the threat, finishing a length in front of Best Of Muge, with Seker Remziye a half-length farther back in third. Time for the race, worth $291,000, was 2:11.33.
Strike the Gold, who stands at the Jockey Club of Turkey Stud Farms, was sent to Turkey following the 1998 breeding season at Ben P. Walden Jr.’s Vinery near Lexington. Strike the Gold also has sired Turkish group I winners Sparkling, the 2008 Turkish Oaks winner, plus Arsenic, Mummy’s Love, and Sabirli.
Arsenic won the 2007 group I St. Leger and was named that year’s champion stayer. Mummy’s Love captured the 2006 Two Thousand Guineas (Tur-I). Sabrili was honored with seven championships, including four as top miler (2005-08).
Strike the Gold, whose Kentucky Derby win came for owners B. Giles Brophy, William Condren, and Joe Cornacchia, finished sixth in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and second in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), beaten a head by subsequent divisional champion Hansel. At 4, Strike the Gold won the Pimlico Special (gr. I) and the Nassau County Handicap (gr. II).
Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, Strike the Gold was sired by Calumet great Alydar, who finished second to Affirmed in all three 1978 classics, and produced from the Hatchet Man mare Majestic Gold. He has sired 22 stakes winners.