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Casey Darnell Stakes (R)
by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Coady Photography
Quinton’s Gold
Carson City
Relasure
Partyband
Chimes Band
Soiree
GOLDEN BAND
Golden Band unleashed a strong stretch rally to win the August 21, 5 1/2-furlong Casey Darnell Stakes (R) for New Mexico-breds at Albuquerque Downs.
Ridden by Rodolfo Guerra, Golden Band closed off of the fractions of :21.74 and :43.95 set by pacesetter and odds-on favorite Hollywood Henry, reaching the wire a 1/2-length from Wheredoesthecashgo and stopping the timer
in 1:02.87. Todd Fincher trained the homebred 6-year-old Quinton’s Gold gelding for owner Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC.
Golden Band was coming off of a third-place finish, 7 1/2 lengths behind winner Hollywood Henry, in the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Sierra Blanca Stakes (R) for New Mexico-breds at Ruidoso Downs on July 31. The gelding is
one of 97 winners from 130 starters sired by Quinton’s Gold, a Kentucky-bred son of the Mr. Prospector stallion Carson City. Raced in three states between 2000 and 2005, Quinton’s Gold earned $234,202 from 27 starts, and his six wins included the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap at Turf Paradise in 2002.
From 14 crops, Quinton’s Gold has sired 10 official black-type stakes winners and the earners of more than $8.8 million, including 2019 Casey Darnell Stakes winner E J’s Gold.
Golden Band is also one of nine winners from as many starters foaled by Partyband, a winning New Mexico-bred daughter of the Dixieland Band stallion Chimes Band. The gelding is a 1/2-brother to multiple stakes winner Roll Out The Band and 2014 Copper Top Futurity (R) winner Raider Red.
Golden Band’s second dam, the New Mexico- bred Full Choke mare Soiree, won three stakes from 1996-1998, including the Kachina Stakes
at Ruidoso Downs. Soiree produced two winners from three starters, including Lauren Lynn, a multiple stakes placed 1/2-sister to Partyband.
Golden Band traces back to his third dam, Flying B.G., a winning New Jersey-bred daughter of the Northern Dancer stallion Barachois. A 1978 foal, Flying B.G. foaled 11 winners from
12 starters, including three stakes winners, all of whom were full brothers to Soiree.
Raced exclusively in New Mexico, Golden Band has won six of 27 races and the $60,000 winner’s share of the purse from his stakes score increased his earnings to $246,198. The gelding ended his 2020 campaign with a second-place finish in the Nov. 11, $50,000 New Mexico Cup Sprint Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Hollywood Henry finished third and was fol- lowed by Hold Me Only, Stormin Fast, Courage
N Order, and West Dawn.
Runner-up Wheredoesthecashgo races for
Amanda Sweeten and Pablo Navarez Hernandez. A six-year-old son of the Gone West stallion Southwestern Heat, the gelding has won six of 33 starts, including the 2017 Rio Grande Senor Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs and has banked $274,287.
Hollywood Henry is a six-year-old Roll Hennessy Roll gelding owned by Bennie A. Vanacek. A $17,500 yearling purchase at the 2016 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Hollywood Henry has won nine of 27 races, including the 2019 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap (R) at Sunland Park and has pocketed $301,035.
THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
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