Al Gold hoping to get back to the Kentucky Derby with G2 Wood Memorial contender Slip Mahoney

As a longtime racing fan and thoroughbred owner, Al Gold dreamed of having a horse good enough to compete in the Kentucky Derby. After making his dream a reality last year with multiple Grade 1-winner Cyberknife, who finished 18th, Gold will hope to go back to Louisville for seconds when Slip Mahoney tries to earn his way into the Derby starting gate in Saturday’s 98th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Brad Cox-trained Slip Mahoney, who picked up 20 points for his last-out runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Gotham here, is 30th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard entering Saturday’s nine-furlong test which offers 100-40-30-20-10 qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Gold, a native of New Jersey and resident of Saratoga Springs, New York, has been a horseplayer and fan for over 50 years and has owned thoroughbreds since 2004. Last year, Cyberknife provided Gold with his first Grade 1 triumph when the son of Gun Runner won the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Although Gold did not get the result he wanted in the “Run for the Roses,” he said he thoroughly enjoyed the moment.

“We didn’t fare very well, but it was a great experience to enjoy it with my friends and family. It was great to do the walkover with my wife and kids,” Gold said. “A couple friends walked over with us too, which was very nice. We spent three or four days with them in Louisville going to different restaurants, going to the races. It was everything you would expect from an experience like that, and hopefully we can do it again this year.”

To qualify for the Derby, Slip Mahoney will need to hit the board in a talented field led by stablemate Hit Show, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, who enters from a 5 1/2-length romp in the Grade 3 Withers on February 11 at the Big A.