Churchill Downs standout Goal Oriented captured the $127,000 Pleasant Colony Stakes presented by GE Appliances on Saturday, topping a ‘Rising Star’ trifecta in the third race on Derby Day.
The Bob Baffert-trained colt maintained his perfect record, completing the 1 1/16-mile contest in 1:42.83 over a sealed sloppy track. Jockey Flavien Prat guided the 6-5 favorite to a three-quarter length victory.
Goal Oriented (Not This Time–Bizzy Caroline, by Afleet Alex) raced three wide along the first bend and set fractions of :23.63, :47.15, and 1:11.36. The 3-year-old maintained his advantage through the stretch while fellow ‘Rising Stars’ Hypnus (Into Mischief) and Tiz Secure (Maximum Security) mounted late challenges.
The race was marred by an injury to Sorcerer’s Silver (Good Magic), who was pulled up and vanned off the track. West Point Thoroughbreds racing manager Erin Birkenhauer later reported that the colt suffered a fractured sesamoid and was transported to Rood & Riddle for fusion surgery.
Goal Oriented comes from an accomplished female family. His dam Bizzy Caroline (MGSW, $347,935) is a half-sister to champion turf female Lady Eli (Divine Park). The dam is also a half-sister to Sacre Caroline (Blame), who produced MGSW & G1SP-Eng Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
The colt’s extended family includes several elite runners: MGISW Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger), G1SW-Eng Palace Episode, GSW & MG1SP-Ire Laughing Lashes (Mr. Greeley), and Canadian champion juvenile filly GISW Spring in the Air (Spring at Last).
Goal Oriented was purchased for $425,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He now boasts a lifetime record of 2-2-0-0 with earnings of $111,960.
The colt races for the partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan. He was bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm LLC & CWC Investment 2, LLC.
Goal Oriented wins the Pleasant Colony presented by GE Appliances! Flavien Prat was aboard for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/HFr5nSfHST
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns)
Goal Oriented wins the Pleasant Colony presented by GE Appliances! Flavien Prat was aboard for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/HFr5nSfHST
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025
