Multiple grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Hoist the Gold will enter stud this year at Don Hargroder's Circle H Farm near Opelousas, La. The millionaire son of Mineshaft will stand for $2,000.
"I've had several stallions earlier in my career that were well bred but had not run much. This horse ran more than 30 times against great company and I love that he is so sound," Hargroder said. "You cannot fault him on conformation and he is sensible."
Hoist the Gold raced as a homebred for Dream Team One Racing Stable, a partnership of six people that began with the Tapit broodmare prospect Tacit Approval, who James Culver bought for $62,000 during the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale from the Darby Dan Farm consignment. Dream Team One Racing has raced the first four foals out of Tacit Approval with trainer Dallas Stewart, with her second foal—Hoist the Gold—her most successful so far. Hoist the Gold was born and raised in Kentucky at Clay and Tracey Caudill's Watershed Farm.
At 2, Hoist the Gold got a win via a disqualification and then won his first start at 3 by 4 1/4 lengths in an allowance race. He went on to place in three stakes—a second in the 2022 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland and thirds in the Malibu Stakes (G1) and Maxfield Overnight Stakes. Early in his 4-year-old campaign, he continued his bridesmaid role in graded stakes with seconds in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) to Cody's Wish and in the Commonwealth Stakes (G3) to Here Mi Song. Hoist the Gold finally broke through in the fall of 2023 when he won the Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length over Nakatomi and then won the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) by 4 1/2 lengths over Senor Buscador . At 5, the connections took a swing in the Saudi Cup (G1) but were not competitive. Back in the United States, he landed three more stakes placings with thirds in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Commonwealth Stakes, and Kelly's Landing Stakes.
Hoist the Gold was retired with a 6-6-6 record from 34 starts and $1,510,327 in earnings.
"Hoist the Gold has been a really cool horse and took us places we never thought we'd go," said Paul Osborne, who was among the partners that also included Culver, Kostas Hatzikoutelis, John Haines, Maureen Peatross, and Elke Ahlmann. "It was awesome racing a homebred and winning a grade 2 stakes at Keeneland."
Culver and Hatzikoutelis had been operating under the Dream Team One Racing Stable banner earlier and raced classic-placed graded stakes winner Mucho Macho Man in partnership with Reeves Thoroughbred Racing through May 4, 2012. Just with Reeves Racing, Mucho Macho Man later won the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Hargroder bought Hoist the Gold for $105,000 through Fasig-Tipton Digital's 2025 August Sale, signing in the name of his Blue Ridge Racing. As of Jan. 22, Hargroder said he already had 25 mares booked to the 7-year-old stallion, which he added is strong in a market where breeders often wait until a foal is on the ground before thinking about the next mating for a mare.
"I'm hopeful we'll get around 50 mares for his first year," he said. "Hoist the Gold had really good speed and could carry it, so I think he'll fit a lot of Louisiana mares."
Osborne and Haines are now the sole owners of Tacit Approval. Besides Hoist the Gold, the mare has produced a minor stakes winner named Mucho Macho Girl (Mucho Macho Man) and a stakes-placed winner named Anakarina (Vekoma ). The mare is in foal to Elite Power and will be bred back to Gunite later this year.
