WAR FRONT’s evergreen runner Goliad took home honors at the recent Kentucky Thoroughbred Association awards when named the 2024 KTDF Earner of the Year with $1,605,200 in earnings.
The homebred for Ramona and Perry Bass II had another strong campaign in 2024 under the direction of Richard Mandella, who started his season off in an Allowance Optional Claiming event. The gelding proved that it was the right kick-off point for him with a victory that catapulted him back to the stakes level.
Goliad rewarded his connections’ choice with an all-the-way win in the Thunder Road S. (G3) for his first career stakes victory. Two starts later, he’d make his first ever start outside of California when traveling to his birth state to race at Kentucky Downs.
Making his first of two starts in seven days at the track, Goliad won a handicap gate-to-wire with a three-quarter length victory. Wheeled back exactly a week later for the Mint Millions S. (G3) at the same track, Goliad proved short rest wasn’t an issue.
Taking his usual spot at the front of the field, he controlled the pace throughout to win the race by a length for his second stakes win of the year.
Goliad ended 2024 with four wins in seven starts with his $1,605,200 in earnings.
The gelding is out of three-time winner Choreograph, who also raced for Ramona Bass. She’s been a strong broodmare for the Bass program, also producing the stakes winning duo of Welcome Dance and Dancing to Town in addition to Grade 3-placed Fredericksburg and Line Dancing.
The mare foaled a three-quarter brother to Goliad by another Bass homebred in Claiborne stallion and Grade 1 winner ANNAPOLIS on March 24 (pictured below).
