Independence Hall Puts in First Work Since Tampa Loss

Independence Hall returned to the work tab Feb. 22 for the first time since suffering his lone loss, but where he'll resurface for his next race remains in question.

The 3-year-old Constitution  colt put in a leisurely four-furlong work at Tampa Bay Downs and was clocked in :50 flat for the 29th-fastest of 45 works at the distance.

For trainer Michael Trombetta, it was a calculated and easy first step by the grade 3 winner after a runner-up finish behind Sole Volante in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay.

"He went well. It was his first breeze after his race two weeks ago," Trombetta said. "It was just a little maintenance work, and he did well."

Though Independence Hall is stabled at Tampa Bay Downs, a start in the March 7 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) is not a given. Trombetta said there are numerous options on the table, and he's not leaning toward any race in particular. He expects to finalize plans after talking to the ownership group of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, and Kathleen and Robert Verratti.

"We've talked a little bit, but we haven't finalized anything," Trombetta said about the colt's next start. "We'll have more conversations about that this week. We're not leaning in any direction. We're just chewing on different things, but we have to pull things together soon, obviously."

Independence Hall ranks ninth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 14 points.

Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds out of the Cape Town mare Kalahari Kat, he was entered last year in The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale, but was bought back by the Verrattis for $200,000 when his reserve price was not met. They originally bought him for $100,000 from his breeder's consignment at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

A debut winner Sept. 21 at Parx Racing, Independence Hall exploded on the 2-year-old scene Nov. 3 with a 12 1/4-length romp in the Nashua Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he covered the mile in a stakes-record time of 1:34.66. He began his 3-year-old campaign Jan. 1 with a four-length score in the Jerome Stakes at the Big A, then finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Sole Volante in the Sam F. Davis as a 3-5 favorite while trying two turns for the first time.