TDN RISING STARS

October 18, 2023 - Keeneland, Race 5, Msw, USD $100,000, 7F

Air of Defiance, C, 2, 2021 by Quality Road

1st Dam: Faypien, by Ghostzapper
2nd Dam: Mighty Eros, by Freud
3rd Dam: Mighty Emy, by Mighty Adversary

Owner: Gold Square LLC
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY)
Trainer: Brad H. Cox

Gold Square's Air of Defiance (c, 2, Quality Road-Faypien, by Ghostzapper) ran to the money with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for trainer Brad Cox at second asking at Keeneland Wednesday.

Drawn wide in post 10, the 3-5 favorite was away in good order and forced the issue while three deep through an opening quarter in :22.62. Racing out in the five path, he hit front approaching the top of the stretch and took off impressively from there to score by six widening lengths over Nyquist Frequency (Nyquist).

Air of Defiance was profiled in Steve Sherack's 'Second Chances' series following an educational, albeit distant, second-place finish behind fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) after lunging at the start in the mud on debut at Saratoga Aug. 25. Fierceness was a disappointing seventh as the heavy favorite in the GI Champagne S. earlier this month.

Air of Defiance brought $400,000 from Al Gold's advisor Joe Hardoon out of the Eaton Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Air of Defiance's dam Faypien, a graded winner around two turns and also the runner-up as the favorite in the 2017 GI Test S. at the Spa, realized $875,000 from breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings at the 2018 FTKNOV sale. After producing a colt by Tapit this year, she was bred back to Charlatan.

The Quality Road over Ghostzapper cross has also produced GSW Guest Suite. Air of Defiance is bred similarly to Quality Road's GISWs Abel Tasman, City of Light and Spring Quality.

Air of Defiance becomes the 16th 'Rising Star' for Quality Road.