Dolly Fisher's Keys Discount earned his seventh consecutive timber stakes victory by defending his title in the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup Stakes on Saturday, May 2, at Great Meadow.

Trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by jockey Jamie Bargary, the 7-year-old son of Medal Count began the four-mile contest by rating behind early leader and fellow Maryland-bred Bogey's Image, ridden by Teddy Davies. After Bogey's Image pulled up when ducking a beacon on the first circuit and going off course, it was smooth sailing for Keys Discount.

Galloping along in front, Keys Discount's advantage was never seriously threatened as he went on to win by nearly 17 lengths. He stopped the clock in 8:21.80 and gave his trainer his 13th Virginia Gold Cup win, and Dolly Fisher her fourth.

Running away to a 34 1/2-length score in his previous start, the $30,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup on April 18, Keys Discount's win streak of seven sanctioned stakes began with last year's running of the Middleburg Hunt Cup, his first career stakes win.

Photo by Douglas Lees

Bred by Bryan Minnich, Keys Discount counts among his wins last fall's International Gold Cup over the same Great Meadow course. The 2025 Maryland-bred champion steeplechaser improved his record to 18-8-2-1 and $246,966 in career earnings.

Keys Discount's career began in March 2022 on the flat at Laurel for owner Gordie Keys, who purchased him as a yearling for $2,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall sale. He managed a second on the turf that July from four starts before starting over hurdles for the first time at Shawan Downs that fall, finishing second.

His next career move was debuting for the Fishers in May 2024, and it has paid off. Since the move he's made 10 timber starts, recording eight wins and a third, with his only non-finish coming when he lost his rider early in the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup in October 2024.

Keys Discount is the last of 10 foals, all winners, out of the unraced Rizzi mare Divertimento.