Ethan West-trained $2.5K yearling Chunk of Gold can become millionaire in G3 Iselin
A Monmouth Park press release (Coady Media/Renee Torbit photo above of Chunk of Gold winning last year’s West Virginia Derby)
OCEANPORT, N.J. – There obviously weren’t any grand expectations for Chunk of Gold when he sold for $2,500 at The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2023.
Saturday, when Kentucky-based trainer Ethan West sends out the 4-year-old colt in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park, he could see his horse return as a millionaire.
“He slipped through the cracks,” West said of Chunk of Gold, a Grade 3 winner already with earnings of $921,511 for 11 career starts. “He has decent pedigree. He had a sister (Band of Gold) who was a stakes-winning filly. Preservationists (Chunk of Gold’s sire) weren’t hot.
“Looking at him, he’s a decent-looking horse. He’s not your oversized big body animal. He looks like a normal horse.”
The $150,000 Iselin Stakes, at a mile and sixteenth, drew a compact field of six and will feature a renewal of the 1-2 finishers from the Grade 3 Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park on June 13: East Avenue and Bishops Bay, respectively, who were separated by a nose at the finish of that race.
East Avenue, a Grade 1 winner, is already a millionaire. Bishops Bay, a two-time Grade 3 winner, has banked $2,542,800.
But the 34-year-old West knows his horse fits.
Chunk of Gold and East Avenue have hooked up three times previously, with Chunk of Gold winning the West Virginia Derby last year (East Avenue was fifth). In the Rise Star at Fair Grounds in 2025, Chunk of Gold was second, with East Avenue 10th.
East Avenue finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby last May with Chunk of Gold checking in ninth.
“I think he is deserving of this test against them,” said West. “As a 3-year-old he was very comparable with East Avenue. Bishops Bay just got nosed out by East Avenue. So I don’t see why he wouldn’t fit here.”
West, who has a 40-horse stable based at Turfway Park, had Chunk of Gold on the Triple Crown trail a year ago, with the horse racing in six graded stakes, winning one, finishing second in three others and getting a third in yet another.
“Last year was awesome,” said West, who has a pair of Grade 3 winners to his credit in a training career that began in 2018. “That’s what we wake up and work for every day, to get one to take you to the Kentucky Derby. He put us on a fun ride.”
Chunk of Gold marked his seasonal return on June 28 at Churchill Downs, finishing second following a seven-month layoff.
“I was pleased with how he handled everything,” said West. “He showed he has come back as a pretty strong horse. It was a good stepping stone back.”
Originally purchased by Chris Melton at the Fasig-Tipton Sale, current owner Terry Stephens purchased a half-interest in the Kentucky-bred before his first race. He bought the other half after Chunk of Gold broke his maiden at first asking.
Though he has just three wins overall, Chunk of Gold’s bankroll has been padded by six second-place finishes. The winner’s share in the Iselin is $90,000.
“Winning the West Virginia Derby was a breakthrough for him,” said West. “I think it was one of those things where it was just a matter of time (before a graded stakes win happened). Keep swinging and you’re going to hit the ball eventually.
“He’s a horse with consistency. He shows up and runs his race.”
For West, Saturday marks his third career starter at Monmouth Park. Aces Honor was second in this year’s Jersey Derby while Hidden Quarry finished third in the Boiling Springs last year.
The ultimate goal for Chunk of Gold after his late start this year is the Breeders’ Cup Mile, West said. The Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Sept. 27 would be the horse’s last prep before the Breeders’ Cup, he added.
The field from the rail out (with trainers) for the 91st edition of the Philip H. Iselin: East Avenue (Brendan Walsh); Chunk of Gold (West); Sergeant Capps (Peter Synnefias); Stars and Stripes (Bill Mott); Bishops Bay (Brad Cox) and La Frost (Terri Pompay).
