Debuting Friday for Mark Glatt and Muir Hut Stables, Formula Rossa (Vekoma) stalked off a heavily-wagered Bob Baffert runner Brilliantly (Uncle Mo), surged to the front at the quarter pole and put that rival away to cruise home a new 'TDN Rising Star'.
Breaking just a touch behind the favorite and settling into the second flight, the 4-1 shot ran third as stablemates Brilliantly and second-time starter Cooey (Girvin) put up an opening quarter in :21.89. As Cooey faded on the run into the far turn, Brilliantly pushed on and opened up a gap leaving Formula Rossa to have to work to drew closer. With an eye-catching outside bid at the quarter pole, the daughter of Vekoma pushed right on by and impressed in the final sixteenth with a very professional effort to win first-time out under Mike Smith. Brilliantly came home second and was well clear of 41-1 longshot Nikolina (Honor A.P.) in third.
Formula Rossa is the second 'TDN Rising Star' for Vekoma just this month (and fourth overall) as the speedy Colloquial earned the honor at Aqueduct Feb. 7. Unraced first dam Fay Na Na, who was purchased for just $1,200 out of KEENOV in 2014 and has produced now three winners from four to race, is a half-sister to GSP The Truth and K G (Successful Appeal) and to SP Francesco Appeal (Successful Appeal). Her 2019 Unified yearling brought $450,000 from the Three Amigos at KEESEP in 2020 while Formula Rossa herself went for $270,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale in 2023. She has a 2-year-old Yaupon filly, produced a Cyberknife filly in 2024 and was not reported bred for this year.
🔥 #7 FORMULA ROSSA ($10.00) debuts in style at @santaanitapark! The three-year-old filly by @SpendthriftFarm's Vekoma was ridden by @mikeesmith10 for trainer Mark Glatt. pic.twitter.com/lwmaMJMjdq
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025
8th-Santa Anita, $61,500, Msw, 2-21, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:08.73, ft,
4 lengths.
FORMULA ROSSA, f, 3, Vekoma
1st Dam: Fay Na Na, by Majestic Warrior
2nd Dam: She's Roughin It, by Forest Camp
3rd Dam: Guinevere K, by Gone West
Sales History: $130,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $270,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Muir Hut Stables LLC; B-Greathouse Equine, LLC & Glencrest Farm, LLC (KY); T-Mark Glatt.
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