Independence Hall (Constitution) kicked off his 2020 path towards the Triple Crown as expected Wednesday, airing by open lengths in Aqueduct's Jerome S. as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite. Last away, he rushed up outside of rivals to press a longshot through a :23.79 opening quarter. He took over after a half in :47.47, with only New York-breds Bourbon Bay (Bayern) and Prince of Pharoahs (American Pharoah) appearing to have any chance to collar the chalk from there. Independence Hall turned very wide into the straight and presented Prince of Pharoahs with a wide-open path along the fence, but neither that foe nor Bourbon Bay could run with Independence Hall late as he leveled off and stretched his advantage to four lengths at the line. Bourbon Bay and Prince of Pharoahs dead-heated for second.
“He didn't get away good, and this probably got to the bottom of him because it's been two months,” said trainer Mike Trombetta. “This is a different track than he ran on last time [in the Nov. 3 GIII Nashua S.]. I'm just glad to get through it and it's one more step in the direction we want to go.”
The conditioner continued, “I'll talk to the partners, but I think the plan will be next week to head down to Tampa and train down there and get out of this weather and get him ready for the next step. It could be the [GIII] Sam F. Davis [Feb. 8], it's on the radar in five weeks. But the intent after today was to head south.”
“It was a small field and I was able to put him in the clear,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz, who flew in from Florida to ride Independence Hall. “I didn't want to get stuck in behind horses today and try to be a hero. I got the opportunity to ride him like he was the best horse and I did. From the quarter pole to the wire he did very well. He didn't look like he did last time, but these are a little better horses and I think the track is very tiring today.”
Independence Hall cruised to a convincing 4 3/4-length debut tally at Parx Sept. 21, prompting Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stables to acquire an interest in the Mike Trombetta trainee from Kathleen and Robert Verratti. That investment was immediately repaid when the dark bay aired by 4 3/4 lengths in the Nov. 3 GIII Nashua S., earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in the process and prompting him to be bet as the fourth individual choice at 13.8-1 in the first GI Kentucky Derby future wager.
Wednesday, Aqueduct
JEROME S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 1-1, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.27, gd.
1–INDEPENDENCE HALL, 123, c, 3, by Constitution&hid=5588">Constitution
1st Dam: Kalahari Cat, by Cape Town
2nd Dam: Desert Stormette, by Storm Ca
3rd Dam: Breezy Stories, by Damascus
($100,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $200,000 RNA 2yo '19 FTFMAR).
O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables,
LLC & Kathleen & Robert N. Verratti; B-Woodford
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Michael J. Trombetta; J-Jose L.
Ortiz. $82,500. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $210,000.
*1/2 to Quality Council (Elusive Quality, GSP, $248,743;
Francois (Smarty Jones), SW & GSP, $381,485; Black Onyx
(Rock Hard Ten), GSW, $418,860.
(DH) 2–Bourbon Bay, 118, c, 3, Bayern–Savvy Sassy, by Street
Sense. ($205,000 Ylg '18 SARAUG; $240,000 RNA 2yo '19
FTFMAR). O-Bourbon Lane Stable (J. Hill, M. McMahon),
Seidman Stables LLC & Lake Lonely Racing; B-Oak Bluff Stables,
LLC & Christophe Clement (NY); T-Mark A. Hennig. $24,000.
(DH) 2–Prince of Pharoahs, 119, c, 3, American Pharoah–My
Dixie Doodle, by Dixie Union. O-Darlene Bilinski & Harr
Patten; B-Dr. Jerry Bilinski & Harry Patten (NY); T-Linda Rice.
$24,000.
Margins: 4, 11 1/4, 11 1/4. Odds: 0.10, 4.50, 12.10.
Also Ran: Celtic Striker, Polar Bear Pete, Dubai Bobby. Scratched: Inside Risk. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Independence Hall is one of five black-type winners and four graded winners from the first crop of Constitution. He is a half-brother to Grade III winner Black Onyx (Rock Hard Ten), stakes victor Francois (Smart Jones) and GSP Quality Council (Elusive Quality). The winner hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Sprint heroine Desert Stormer (Storm Cat), dam of GSW Sahara Gold (Seeking the Gold), who in turn produced MGISW millionaire Better Lucky (Ghostzapper).
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