3rd-Churchill Downs, $125,785, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.52, ft, neck.
VICTORY FORMATION (c, 2, Tapwrit–Smart N Soft, by Smart Strike) sailed home to 'TDN Rising Star'-dom last out Oct. 21 against a deep Keeneland maiden special field, going coast-to-coast by 4 3/4 lengths to become the first for his sire to garner the accolade. Hammered down to 6-5 favoritism here on the step up into the allowance ranks, he vied with a rival early from the rail through :21.44 and :45.11 splits. After briefly leading and then losing his advantage nearing the eighth pole, he responded when pressured again by Two Eagles River (Cloud Computing) and gamely prevailed by a neck. A half to Bellamore (Empire Maker), GISP, $284,040 and to the dam of Italian stakes winner Sienna (Ger) (Amaron {GB}), Victory Formation is the latest winning addition for his dam. He has a pair of half-sisters–a yearling by Karakontie (Jpn) and a weanling by Practical Joke. Smart N Soft went to Raging Bull (Fr) for 2023. The second dam is GSW Softly, herself a half-sister to GSW Coragil Cat. Sales history: $100,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $340,000 2yo '22 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $129,535. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
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