Chunk of Gold

Connections

Owner: Terry L. Stephens
Breeders: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Ethan W. West
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

Chunk of Gold: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Chunk of Gold, a 3-year-old colt by Preservationist out of Play for Gold, heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with consistent performances, including a win in a 6-furlong maiden special weight at Turfway Park (1:11.00) and second-place finishes in the Louisiana Derby (G2) (1:56.16 over 1 3/16 miles) and Risen Star Stakes (G2) (1:48.75 over 1 1/8 miles) at Fair Grounds. With a pedigree featuring Arch and Cairo Prince, Chunk of Gold blends stamina and speed for the Run for the Roses on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.

Pedigree

Chunk of Gold
├── Sire: Preservationist
│   ├── Sire: Arch
│   └── Dam: Flying Dixie (by Dixieland Band)
└── Dam: Play for Gold
    ├── Sire: Cairo Prince
    └── Dam: Gold N Shaft (by Mineshaft)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Preservationist
  Preservationist, a son of Arch, was a Grade 1 winner who excelled at classic distances, notably winning the 2019 Woodward Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles and the 2019 Suburban Stakes (G2) at 1 1/4 miles. His progeny, including Chunk of Gold, often inherit stamina suited for longer distances, which aligns with Chunk of Gold’s performances at 1 1/8 and 1 3/16 miles.
• Dam: Play for Gold
  Play for Gold, by Cairo Prince, is a winning mare whose most notable produce is Chunk of Gold. She’s also the dam of stakes winner Band of Gold, a full sibling to Chunk of Gold. Play for Gold’s pedigree, through her sire Cairo Prince, adds a blend of speed and stamina, which has manifested in Chunk of Gold’s tactical routing style.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Preservationist’s Parents (Chunk of Gold’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Preservationist’s sire is Arch, as you confirmed, a successful stallion by Kris S. who sired Grade 1 winners like Blame (2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic) and Arklow (2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic). Arch, who died in 2016, is known for producing runners with stamina and versatility, as seen in Preservationist’s classic-distance wins. Preservationist’s dam is Flying Passage, by A.P. Indy, a stakes-placed mare who adds further stamina to the lineage through A.P. Indy’s Belmont Stakes-winning influence.
• Play for Gold’s Parents (Chunk of Gold’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Play for Gold’s sire is Cairo Prince, a son of Pioneerof the Nile who won the 2014 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles and sired stakes winners like Cairo Memories. Cairo Prince brings a mix of speed and stamina, with his sire line tracing to Empire Maker and Unbridled, which complements Chunk of Gold’s ability to finish strongly. Play for Gold’s dam is Gold N Shaft, by Mineshaft, a mare who contributes additional stamina—Mineshaft, also by A.P. Indy, won the 2003 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at 1 1/4 miles.

Additional Notes on Chunk of Gold’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Preservationist): Arch, a son of Kris S., brings stamina and versatility, as seen in his successful progeny like Blame, who won at 1 1/4 miles. Preservationist’s dam, Flying Passage, by A.P. Indy, reinforces this stamina—A.P. Indy’s Belmont Stakes win and his influence as a sire of classic runners (e.g., Mineshaft) suggest Chunk of Gold can handle the Derby’s 1 1/4 miles. Preservationist’s own Grade 1 wins at 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 miles further support this.
• Maternal Line (Play for Gold): Cairo Prince, by Pioneerof the Nile, adds a blend of speed and stamina—his sire line through Empire Maker and Unbridled has produced classic runners like American Pharoah. Gold N Shaft, by Mineshaft, doubles down on A.P. Indy’s influence, as Mineshaft excelled at 1 1/4 miles, enhancing Chunk of Gold’s potential for the Derby distance. This maternal line balances speed with endurance, as seen in Chunk of Gold’s late kick in the Louisiana Derby.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Chunk of Gold’s pedigree is well-suited for the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance. Preservationist and Arch provide stamina, while Cairo Prince adds tactical speed, allowing Chunk of Gold to stalk and finish strongly, as evidenced by his 1:56.16 in the Louisiana Derby over 1 3/16 miles. However, his synthetic-heavy early races at Turfway Park raise questions about his dirt form at Churchill Downs, though his Fair Grounds performances (2nd on dirt in both the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby) are encouraging.

Chunk of Gold’s Race Record