Pedigree

Golden Doc A is by Unusual Heat, a three-time Irish stakes winner who finished second in the 1994 Concorde S. (Ire-G3) at Tipperary. Primarily a miler, Unusual Heat is by French champion miler and successful sire Nureyev, a son of Northern Dancer, and he's out of the champion Danish mare Rossard (Den) (Glacial), winner of the 1 1/4-mile Flower Bowl H. (G1) on the turf at Belmont Park in 1984. Unusual Heat is one of the top stallions standing in California, and he's proven very versatile, with offspring excelling on both turf and the main track as well as in sprints and routes. His daughter Tucked Away captured the 2005 Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. With a progeny Average Winning Distance of 7.1, Unusual Heat is providing a bit of stamina to his runners.

Golden Doc A hails from the winning New Zealand-bred mare Penpont (Crested Wave), and she's the fifth of seven foals by Unusual Heat out of the 14-year-old mare. The third, Rushen Heat, won going two turns on the turf, and Golden Doc A's four-year-old full brother, Grade 3 hero Unusual Suspect, is a turf stakes winner in both sprints and routes. Only one of Penpont's foals has won on dirt, with her other four winners so far posting all of their victories on turf or synthetic tracks.

Golden Doc A is bred for turf and has had some success already on the sod, finishing a dead-heat third in the Miesque S. (G3) and second in the Blue Norther S. last year. Her other eight starts have come on synthetic tracks. The 1 1/8-mile distance of the Kentucky Oaks should be no trouble for the Grade 1 winner. The real question is dirt.