TDN RISING STARS

October 12, 2018 - Belmont Park, Race 6, Msw, USD $75,000, 6F, .0000

Fortin Hill, C, 2, 2016 by Mucho Macho Man

1st Dam: Dusty Rose, by Cherokee Run
2nd Dam: Bear West, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Amelia Bearhart, by Bold Hour

Owner: OXO Equine LLC
Breeder: Robert L. Losey (IN)
Trainer: Chad C. Brown

OXO Equine’s $575,000 OBS March purchase Fortin Hill (Mucho Macho Man) justified his 6-5 favoritism with an impressive debut victory at Belmont Friday, becoming the newest ‘TDN Rising Star’. Breaking on top from the outside post in this six-horse affair, the bay was overtaken by the rail-drawn Starting Point (Paynter) and pressed from second through an opening quarter in :22.91. Drawing even with the pacesetter on the far turn, the Indiana-bred effortlessly sailed clear in the lane under a hand ride from Irad Ortiz, Jr. to win as he pleased by 5 1/2 lengths and become the seventh winner for his freshman sire (by Macho Uno). He completed the six-panel test in a sharp 1:09.56. Family Biz (Fed Biz) finished second and it was another 5 1/4 lengths back to the third-place finisher.

A $12,000 short yearling at Keeneland January, Fortin Hill sold for $170,000 at Keeneland September and summoned $575,000 at OBS March after breezing in a swift :20 4/5. He is the second most expensive juvenile by his first-season sire following $625,000 EASMAY buy Mucho Gusto, who was also tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after his debut at Los Alamitos. The winner hails from the family of two-time Canadian Horse of the Year and Eclipse winner Chief Bearhart (Chief’s Crown) and MGISW Private Zone (Macho Uno). His dam Dusty Rose is also responsible for a yearling gelding by Archarcharch and was bred back to Jump Start earlier this term.