Quality Road's First Starter Scores Easy Win
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Hootenanny, the first starter for freshman sire Quality Road , skipped away from the field in the stretch of Keeneland's second race April 17, scoring a 4 1/4-length win in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight test on the Polytrack .
Trained by the master of the Keeneland "baby race" Wesley Ward, Hootenanny tracked Midnight Decision through a quarter-mile in :22.70. After edging away from that rival, Hootenanny withstood a midstretch challenge from even-money favorite Sky Racer before drawing off to the easy win.
Sent off at 9-2 in his racing debut, Ken Donworth, Ben McElroy, and Wesley Ward's Hootenanny completed the 4 1/2-furlong race in :51.15. In his impressive stretch run, Hootenanny completed the race's final furlong in 5.86 seconds under jockey Leandro Goncalves.
A February foal bred in Kentucky by Barronstown, Hootenanny also is the first starter for the Hennessy mare More Hennessy. Hootenanny went through the Keeneland sales ring twice. Consigned by Eaton Sales to the 2012 November sale, the gelding was purchased by Winding Oaks Farm for $120,000. Pinhooked by St. George Sales into the 2013 September yearling sale, he was sold to Cromwell Bloodstock for $75,000.
Multiple grade I winner Quality Road stands for $25,000 at Lane's End in Versailles, Ky.
Michael Tabor's Circle the World, also trained by Ward and the first starter for freshman sire Munnings , rallied for second. Munnings, a multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter, stands for $10,000 at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky.