Golden Notes got on the winning path Friday, March 27 in her very first start in the first round of the Mya Tri Series. The late closer is named in honor of a former Indiana champion trained by Walter Haynes Jr. that only lost one race as a two and three-year-old, completing her career in 2009 with a 21 win tally from 26 career starts and more than $278,000, a bankroll that was collected prior to escalated stakes money in the Hoosier State.
Golden Notes began her career like a pro for driver Kyle Wilfong. She prepped for her first start off two qualifiers, winning the most recent one. When the gate sprung open, Golden Notes trotted out from post three and settled in third behind Soooo Charmin and Logan Loney and Preciate Yall and Atlee Bender. Soooo Charmin led the way through the quarter in :27.4 and half in :58.0 before Ponda Perfect and LeWayne Miller moved to the outside, flushing Golden Notes out in first over fashion around the final turn.
At the top of the stretch, Golden Notes had reached the lead and trotted home in :28.0 for the open length win in 1:57.3, a new lifetime best. Preciate Yall finished three and three-quarter lengths back in second followed by Ponda Perfect in third.
Golden Notes was the favorite, paying $3.60 for the win. The sophomore daughter of Fiftydallarbill is owned by Homer Hochstetler, Robert Buddig, and Allen Schwartz. John Barnard, owner of Fiftydallarbill, is the breeder on the filly, who was unraced last year as a two-year-old. Connie Hochstetler signed the ticket for Golden Notes at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. The filly was purchased for $40,000 from the Chapel Ridge Farm consignment, serving as agent for Buckstone Farm in Paris, Ky., the farm that raised her. Jay Hochstetler is the trainer of the filly.
Golden Notes is the daughter of Golden Tab, a daughter of Mr Cantab who has one other winner, a full sister to Golden Notes named Fiftydallar Tab with a mark of 1:55.1 and more than $63,000 in earnings. The family has a two-year-old this year, also by Fiftydallarbill, named Gold Currency, and an unnamed filly, also by Fiftydallarbill, who is a yearling this year.
In the other division of the Mya Tri Series, K-lyn and LeWayne Miller made it a near gate to wire effort, taking over after the quarter in :28.2. The Helpisontheway sophomore filly held steady all the way to the wire for the win in 1:59.3, a final quarter trotted in :27.4. Whip It and Joey Putnam finished second over Meadowbrook Dora and Mike Peterson for third.
K-lyn paid $4.80 for the win. Also trained by Miller, she is owned by Derek Lehman and was bred by Mervin Lehman, Orla Bontrager, John Lengacher Jr., and Black Creek Farm. She brought $40,000 through the sales ring at the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale, selling late on the second day of the sale. She is a full sister to Indiana Sires Stakes champion Naturdays and ISFC contender Muscle Dan.
Photo of Golden Notes by Dean Gillette
