Independence Hall 'Nearly Perfect' in Latest Work

Perfection is difficult to achieve on the racetrack, so trainer Michael Trombetta settled for the next-best thing Feb. 2 in Independence Hall's final workout for the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.

"He kicked on nice. I'm very happy with the breeze," Trombetta said after his assistant Sarah Shaffer worked the 3-year-old colt four furlongs in :48 3/5 on the fast Tampa Bay main track. "The way he started off (an opening eighth-mile in about :13), you wouldn't have thought he'd breeze in :48 and change.

"The ask was somewhere in the :48-:49 range and out in 1:01 range, and he galloped out in 1:00 4/5. So if you're choosier than that, you'll never be happy."

With the exception of some shenanigans in the paddock before his victory in the Jan. 1 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, Independence Hall has done nothing to cause his connections to fret. The Constitution  colt will likely be a heavy favorite when he goes in search of his fourth victory in four starts in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis Stakes, a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race.

Jose Ortiz will be in town to ride Independence Hall, who is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, Kathleen Verratti, and Robert Verratti.

Saturday's upcoming Festival Preview Day—so named because it leads to the March 7 Festival Day, featuring the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2)—includes three other stakes races in addition to the Sam F. Davis, two of them graded events on the turf course.

Independence Hall arrived at Tampa Bay Downs five days after his Jerome Stakes victory. 

"Knock wood, he's been good," Trombetta said. "He gets a little excited, but I think he wants to get out there and do something."

The long-range objective for Independence Hall is to make the starting gate for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. Independence Hall picked up 10 points for winning the Jerome, and a victory Saturday would add 10 to his total.

His connections considered the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford-Lincoln (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as his next start. That race awards 50 points to the winner, and with the Kentucky Derby limited to 20 starters, owners and trainers can never be sure what total they might need to qualify.

But given the manner in which Independence Hall has settled in here, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners managing partner Aron Wellman made the call to contest the Sam F. Davis.

"The (difference in points) was part of the decision process, but the owners feel the points will come if the horse is right," Trombetta said. "This race is here at the track he's training on, and the other one is 600 miles away at a track he's never seen. You weigh all these things, then everybody has to be happy with whatever decision is made, and you just roll with it."