Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Independence Hall

Nov 08, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stable, and Robert and Kathleen Verratti’s Independence Hall moved his mark to a perfect two-for-two following his romp in the Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct on Sunday.

The Kentucky-bred juvenile was 12 1/4 widening length clear at the finish while clocking one-mile on the dirt in a stakes-record 1:34.66 under Jose Ortiz.And his pilot came impressed. Ortiz quipped, “I don’t think any other two-year-old out there can kick like him. He seems special.”

Independence Hall made his debut at Parx on September 21 in a seven-furlongs maiden special weight event. Going postward as the 7-5 favorite, the Michael Trombetta trainee overcame a tardy break from the rail to win going away by 4 3/4 lengths. He earned a 91 BRIS Speed number for his effort, and he topped that when registering a substantial 101 figure in the Nashua. His conditioner was left at a loss for words following the triumph.

“I wouldn’t imagine that any of my horses could do that,” Trombetta stated. “For him to come up and run this well, I don’t have the words to describe it.”

The son of Constitution was bred in the Bluegrass State by Woodford Thoroughbreds and brought the gavel down at $100,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the third stakes star produced from the winning Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat. Black Onyx, a half-brother to the winner, captured the 2013 Spiral (G3) at Turfway Park. This is the same female line as 1995 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) heroine Desert Stormer.

Independence Hall will shoot up many early Kentucky Derby leaderboards following his Nashua tour-de-force. The dark bay colt has shown no signs of distance limitations at this early stage of his career, and he earned a stout 102 BRIS Late Pace number at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile.