Golden Tornado Emulates Unbeaten Half-Brother Verifire With a ‘Rising Star’ Performance of His Own on Debut

[Wandering Eyes]

Golden Tornado (c, 2, McKinzie–Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike), a half-brother to three-for-three Maxfield S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Verifire (Authentic), earned a 'Rising Star' badge of his own with a good-looking debut victory for trainer Danny Gargan at the Spa Saturday.

The $475,000 KEESEP yearling graduate secured a perfect spot in a tracking second behind favored Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) through an opening quarter in :22.76. He turned up the heat approaching the quarter pole and leveled off beautifully in the stretch to win going away with powerful strides by 3 1/4 lengths at odds of 7-2. Oscar's Hope held second.

Golden Tornado, owned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Gainesway Stable and Legendary Thoroughbreds, becomes the second 'Rising Star' for sophomore sire McKinzie. The stakes-placed Ruby Trust brought $180,000 from Golden Tornado's co-owner and breeder Gainesway at the 2020 KEENOV sale. Ruby Trust produced a filly by Olympiad in 2024 ($130,000 KEENOV weanling purchase by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent) and was barren for 2025. She was bred to McKinzie for a 2026 foal.

The aforementioned Verifire, a $260,000 KEESEP yearling turned $1-million OBSMAR breezer, is being aimed at the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga Aug. 23. He is owned by Resolute Racing and trained by Brad Cox.

6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-9, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.87, ft, 3 1/4 lengths.
GOLDEN TORNADO, c, 2, by McKinzie
            1st Dam: Ruby Trust (SP, $145,212), by Smart Strike
            2nd Dam: Queen Ofthe Catsle, by Tale of the Cat
            3rd Dam: Kiawah Queen, by Lord At War (Arg)
Sales history: $475,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) & Legendary Thoroughbreds; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. (KY); T-Danny Gargan. *1/2 to Verifire (Authentic), SW, $223,960.

 

Golden Tornado breaks his maiden at first asking in R6 at Saratoga under @jrosariojockey for trainer Danny Gargan! pic.twitter.com/kCfHKBXm0v

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 9, 2025

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