With all eyes on unbeaten Independence Hall (Constitution) in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S., Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) came rolling down the Tampa Bay stretch to upset the 3-5 favorite by a widening 2 1/2 lengths. It was 11 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Ajaaweed (Curlin).
Sole Volante, campaigned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables Corp., won his first two starts on grass, including an impressive come-from-behind win in the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Nov. 30. He ran on nicely to finish third with a strong 90 Beyer Speed Figure while making his dirt debut in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man S. in Hallandale last time Jan. 4.
Sam F. Davis winning trainer Patrick Biancone also saddled last Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. runner-up Ete Indien (Summer Front).
“We love him a lot,” Biancone said. “He's fantastic on the turf and in America, the life is the dirt, so I ran him in a sprint race at Gulfstream just to see if he could handle it and let him take some kickback. He's a very interesting young horse. We'll see how he comes back first, the plan first was to go to Fair Grounds because this horse has a lot of stamina, but nothing is cast in stone.”
Away well from post two, the $20,000 OBSAPR buy ran second last early, as 'TDN Rising Star' Premier Star (Tapiture) and Chapalu (Flatter) threw down through fast fractions of :23.34 and :46.52 while tracked intently by Independence Hall with a long way back to the others.
Independence Hall made a menacing sweeping move to take over approaching the quarter mile pole, but Sole Volante was winding up with an explosive bid of his own. Sole Volante collared Independence Hall as they turned for home and powered clear late to get the money.
“We'll see how he comes back and how he progresses,” Biancone said. “What he did today was really good. I bought the horse for my daughter when she turned 22 [click here for story] and said if I can get him for $22,000, I'll buy him, and we got him for $20,000. We have plenty of races to choose from, maybe we'll come back here in a month [for the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby].”
Independence Hall, a brilliant 12 1/4-length winner of the GIII Nashua S. Nov. 3 and four-length victor after lunging at the start in the Jerome S. Jan. 1, both going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct, was making his two-turn debut at Tampa Saturday.
“Jose [Ortiz] said his tongue tie came loose in the post parade, but I'm not saying that as an excuse,” trainer Michael Trombetta said. “It's an inconvenience and I'm going to have to watch the replay and take it all in. He broke sharp and he was good, he was a little excitable [in the paddock] but he wasn't terrible, so we'll see.”
Pedigree Notes:
Sole Volante becomes the second graded winner for young sire Karakontie (Jpn).
The winning mare Light Blow, already the dam the of GIII Canadian Derby winner Explode (Trappe Shot) and the stakes-placed Light of Joy (Kitten's Joy), is also represented by the 2-year-old colt Naden Harbour (Air Force Blue) and a yearling filly by Karakontie. She was bred back to the latter for the 2020 season.
Light Blow is a half-sister to group winners Limnos (Jpn) (Hector Protector), Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector) and a full to Group 1 winner Light Shift-dam of Group 1 winner Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She is also a half to the dam of Group 1 winner Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}).
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
SAM F. DAVIS S.-GIII, $200,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 2-8, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.60, ft.
1–SOLE VOLANTE, 118, g, 3, by Karakontie+%28Jpn%29">Karakontie (Jpn)
1st Dam: Light Blow, by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Northern Trick, by Northern Dancer
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($6,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $20,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone & Limelight Stables Corp; B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY); T-Patrick L Biancone; J-Luca Panici. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $196,310. *1/2 to Explode (Trappe Shot), GSW, $255,863. **Second GSW for sire (by Bernstein). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–Independence Hall, 122, c, 3, Constitution–Kalahari Cat, by Cape Town. ($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. $40,000.
3–Ajaaweed, 118, c, 3, Curlin–Asiya, by Daaher. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Kiaran P McLaughlin. $20,000.
Margins: 2HF, 11 1/4, NK. Odds: 5.80, 0.70, 3.30.
Also Ran: Tiz Rye Time, No Getting Over Me, Premier Star, Chapalu. Scratched: Albert Park.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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