Independence Hall remained unbeaten in his first two career starts with a romping 12 ¼-length win in the Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Sunday, Nov. 3, becoming his sire’s fourth first-crop stakes winner, tops among all freshman sires.Independence Hall earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in the win, the highest Beyer for a 2-year-old this year.
Making his stakes debut, following a dominant 4 ¾-length score in his maiden special debut at PARX, Independence Hall was forwardly placed in second position early following an opening quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds. Under a confident ride from Jose Ortiz, Independence Hall took control of the race around the far turn and bounded home a decisive winner, covering one mile in 1:34.66 for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert and Kathleen Verratti and Twin Creeks Racing.
“I wouldn’t imagine that any of my horses could do that,” said trainer Michael Trombetta. “I thought this was a great group that was assembled, and it was an intimidating bunch of horses, actually. For him to come up and run this well, I don’t have the words to describe it.”
Ortiz was also enthusiastic about his praise for the colt, saying, “I don’t think any other 2-year-old out there can kick like him. He seems special.”
Independence Hall was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, and is out of the Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat. The $250,000 Remsen S. (G2) on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct might be the next target for the colt. The Remsen offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points for the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) to the top four finishers.
Constitution will stand the 2020 breeding season for $40,000 S&N.
