Gold Digging Broad picked up her first career stakes win in the All Brandy Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, Aug. 19, following a disqualification.

The 3-year-old daughter of Mineshaft broke her maiden on June 18 at Laurel in her eighth career start. Next out, in her first outing against winners on July 14 and one of two sophomores in the field, she was sixth of 11, beaten 5 1/4 lengths. She went off at 21-1 in a field of nine Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired fillies and mares in the All Brandy.

With very little early speed on paper, Carlos Lopez decided to be aggressive with his mount and sent her to the rail and the lead. She hugged the inside up the backstretch and set very moderate fractions, going the first quarter in 24.65 and the opening half in 49.41. Favored Thegirlfromireland and second choice Coconut Cake prompted Gold Digging Broad from her outside.

As they rounded the final turn, Coconut Cake began to fade, and Thegirlfromireland moved to directly engage Gold Digging Broad. Thegirlfromireland put a half length in front entering the stretch and looked ready to run away. However, Gold Digging Broad refused to give in and dueled with her rival throughout the stretch run. Meanwhile, Downtown Katie, who saved ground racing well off the early pace, came through towards the inside in the stretch and put her head in front. Gold Digging Broad did her best to fend that rival off, and the two hit the wire together in 1:42.80 for 1 1/16 miles.

In a desperately close photo, the camera revealed that Downtown Katie crossed the wire first by a nose. However, the stewards soon posted the inquiry sign. A look at the head-on replay revealed that Downtown Katie interfered with fifth-place finisher Amplio Esquema, crowding that rival against the rail and forcing her to check. As a result, Downtown Katie was disqualified from first and placed fifth, with Gold Digging Broad elevated as the winner. 

The victory improved Gold Digging Broad's earnings to $96,430 with a career record of 2-1-2 from 10 starts. She has been 2-0-2 in five starts on the turf. 

Gold Digging Broad was bred by LRM Stable LLC, who campaigned her through her fifth start where trainer Miguel Vera claimed her for $12,500 on March 5 at Laurel. She’s raced for Jean Mahoney in her five starts since.

The chestnut filly comes from a family of Maryland Million champions. Her second dam, graded stakes winner Timely Broad (Broad Brush), produced a pair of full-sibling Maryland Million winners: 2012 Classic victor Not Abroad and 2011 Oaks winner Brushed by Love, both by Not For Love. Gold Digging Broad is the second winner and first stakes winner out of Brushed by Love, whose most recent foal is an unnamed yearling filly by Street Magician.