Chunk of Gold, a Kentucky Derby Cinderella Story

Chunk of Gold is one of this year's "feel good" stories heading into the Kentucky Derby (G1) because the modestly bred gray or roan colt who cost just $2,500 as a yearling makes every fan feel like they, too, could one day realize their dream on American racing's biggest stage.

The son of Preservationist will make his run for glory May 3 at Churchill Downs against 19 of the best 3-year-olds in the country. He will compete against horses who cost as much as $1.2 million, but the proud colt has already defied the expectations his price tag might elicit having already earned $348,818.

Chunk of Gold was bred in Kentucky by the late Brereton C. Jones, the founder of Airdrie Stud, and sold as a yearling at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale to Chris Melton. Terry Stephens and Melton raced the colt together initially and then Stephens bought Melton's share privately.

"He was a May 11 colt so we kept him back for October (sale) to give him some time to mature," said Bret Jones, president of Airdrie Stud. "This probably shouldn't be discussed but I'll honestly never forget him as a yearling because he tried multiple times to climb out of his stall over at Fasig! He would get up on his hind legs and actually got his front feet over the barrier a few times to the point of it being a serious worry. In hindsight, I'm choosing to attribute that behavior to him being a tough dude that wanted to show us he was the boss. Here's hoping that toughness comes through on Saturday."

Melton pinhooks about 30-40 yearlings each year and operates a training center in Columbia, Ky., where he breaks the young horses and then sells them. He has had a hand in developing some talented runners who didn't cost a lot, including breaking grade 1 winner Nutella Fella, who sold for $12,000 as a yearling, and grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Green Up, who sold for $10,000.

The consignors at Airdrie encouraged Melton to come look at Chunk of Gold on the grounds at the Fasig-Tipton sale, and when he did, he liked what he saw.

"I was going to go up to $20,000," said Melton. "When I got him for $2,500 I thought, uh oh, I've missed something. He was a little immature, but you could tell he was going to grow up and be good-looking horse, and he has."

Chunk of Gold broke his maiden at first asking Dec. 19 at Turfway Park for Melton and Stephens under the tutelage of trainer Ethan West. Since then, he has had three runner-up finishes, including a most recent second place behind Tiztastic in the Louisiana Derby (G2) March 22.

"It has been awesome to watch what Ethan has done with him," Jones said. "He was obviously a pretty strong-minded colt, and for Ethan to develop him into a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender is just so impressive. I think the colt, and his trainer, have big futures in front of them."

"When he ran at Turfway, I owned half of him then," said Melton. "I sold my other part out to Terry after that. I told Terry if this horse makes it to the (Kentucky) Derby, I want two Derby seats. So, we were dreaming big."

Melton will be at Churchill Downs Saturday celebrating not just his keen eye and seeing Chunk of Gold in the Run for the Roses, but also his 28th wedding anniversary with his wife Amy.

"We got married 28 years ago on Derby Day," he said. "He is the only horse we've had a part in that's even come close (to making the Kentucky Derby). It means a lot, we're really proud of him."