Thursday, February 11, 2010

My Future by Marc Raben



I would like to share some bittersweet news with you. Secret Ta Gold was everything I could have ever asked for in a race horse. My first horse. She was as fast as a bullet and fought her entire racing career battling ailments and injuries, but most importantly, fighting for respect, which in the end I hope that she gained. She changed my life. She truly is my guardian angel on earth and I cherish every second God allows her to be in my life. My greatest failure to my precious Secret was that I was unable to get her to fully achieve her dreams as a race horse. As a humanitarian and ambassador to the sport of horse racing, she excelled in ways that continue to amaze myself and others every day. She is and was everything I could ever ask for. Therefore, I cannot ask her for any more. She gave everything she had in her tiny little legs and her huge heart. I am officially announcing her retirement from horse racing. She is too precious to myself, others, and to so many wonderful children to take a chance of her getting seriously injured with a return to the race track. She and her offspring will continue what she started, working with children that need a smile as they fight life's more serious battles. Also, the film company that I am working with about her life story insists on a clause in the contract that if the deal goes through that she be retired. We all want her here to see her story in print and on the big screen. The story speaks to all of us, and the idea to never give up and fight every day to achieve our dreams no matter what. No one is too feeble....If we can dream it we can do it. It is the story about a little horse bred in Illinois that showed her heart, love, and fighting spirit to all she came in contact with. Her story speaks to all of us that have ever been told or believed at some point in our lives that we couldn't do something. Yes we can!!! The word rich begins and ends with the fullness of our hearts. We don't need to be a millionaire to make a million dollar difference. With that said.....Please stay tuned for upcoming information on her book and media events forthcoming.

On a lighter note....Secret Ta Gold will be bred in 2010 to Go for Gin. Go for Gin won the 1994 Kentucky Derby (wiring the field) beating Holly Bull and Tobasco Cat, with second places in the Preakness and Belmont. He retired with earnings of $1,380,866. Go for Gin is a half-brother to champion and leading sire Pleasant Tap. From the direct female line of the remarkable foundation mare La Troienne whose descendants have won more classics than any other! Go For Gin is the sire of G1 winner Albert The Great (who sired millionaire and Kentucky Derby runner Nobiz Like Shobiz) who earned $3,012,490. What is most impressive about this match is that the mating gets a A+++ rating, the highest and rarest possible from Werk Thoroughbreds. This match is also very favorable among other nicking systems including True Nicks from Alan Porter. The foal will be a distance horse with great bloodlines. The hooves of a champion and the heart of a champion, all in one foal.....Wow!! I hope that you will continue to follow our little story and see where this strange amazing trip takes us. I promise the ride will be worth the admission. It all started with a dream. Please tell your friends and family to continue to dream with us. Spread the word and let's get more fans and start an awakening. Dreams can become reality. Let me tell you a secret about one I know......

WERK NICK RATINGTM A+++
Go For Gin - Secret Ta Gold
(Based on the GO FOR GIN - MR. PROSPECTOR cross)
*Triple Plus*
Roman Dosage Profile: (7-2-10-2-3)
Dosage Points: 24
D.I.: 1.40 C.D.: 0.33
5-Generation Inbreeding: NEVER BEND - 4f x 5m
Copyright 2009 Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved
Phone: (510) 490-1111 Fax: (510) 490-4499

Go for Gin (foaled 1991 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse most well known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. For his Derby win, Chris McCarron was his jockey, who had previously won the Kentucky Derby on Alysheba.
Born in Kentucky in 1991, he was bred by Pamela duPont Darmstadt and trained by Nick Zito, who also trained 1991 Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold. He ended his racing career with $1,380,866 in earnings.

In 1995, Go for Gin suffered a small tear of a tendon sheath in his left foreleg while working out at Belmont Park. This precipitated his retirement to stud.

Racing history
In total, Go for Gin started 19 races, winning five and running in the money 14 times. Though he challenged for the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, he never achieved a win again, losing nine races after his last victory at the Kentucky Derby.

1994 Kentucky Derby
The 120th Kentucky Derby was held on May 7, 1994 and featured a sloppy track. The race set off at 5:34 p.m. local time. Go for Gin entered the race at 9.10:1 odds, behind Holy Bull at 2.20, Brocco at 4.30, Tabasco Cat at 6.10, and Strodes Creek at 7.90. Go for Gin started by ducking out, forcing Tabasco Cat into Brocco. By the 1/4 mile pole, Go for Gin had reached 2nd place behind Ulises. At the 1/2 mile pole, Go for Gin had captured the lead by half a length. As he entered the stretch, he'd increased the lead to four lengths. Strodes Creek and Blumin Affair both made late charges, closing the gap some but not enough to close. Go for Gin finished with a time of 2:03.72. He won by two lengths, and netted US$628,800 for the victory. Of note, Tabasco Cat finished in sixth place in this race, but went on to win that year's other two legs of the Triple Crown. Go for Gin placed second in both of those races.

Race record at age 2
•Won Remsen Stakes
•Won Maiden
•Won Chief's Crown Stakes
Race Record at age 3
•Won Preview Stakes
•Won Kentucky Derby
•2nd at Preakness Stakes
•2nd at Belmont Stakes
•2nd at Fountain of Youth Stakes
•2nd at Wood Memorial Stakes
•3rd at Forego Stakes
Race record at age 4
•3rd at Churchill Downs Handicap

History at stud
Go for Gin was retired to stud in 1995 at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. He is the sire of Albert the Great, who retired with lifetime winnings in excess of US$3 million and has sired Nobiz Like Shobiz. His runners have an average US$71,742 per starter. He has sired seven stakes winners. In total, Go for Gin offspring have netted more than US$30 million in career winnings.


Pedigree: Cormorant-Never Knock by Stage Door Johnny