Violence's First Starter Gets Commanding Win

Buy Sell Hold, the first starter for Hill 'n' Dale Farms' freshman sire Violence  , won in commanding fashion April 20 when she took a $60,000 maiden special weight at Keeneland by 4 1/2 lengths.

Bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures, the gray or roan filly is the first foal out of stakes winner Melody Lady (Unbridled's Song) and is owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, who bought her as a yearling for $67,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Hill 'n' Dale Sales consigned the filly.

Buy Sell Hold was quick out of the gate in her debut, and took the field of six other challengers through early fractions of :22.57 and :45.68. She won pulling away to complete 4 1/2 furlongs in :51.84.

Melody Lady is the second foal and first stakes winner produced by mutliple grade 1 winner Lady Tak, whose four graded stakes victories include the 2003 Test Stakes (G1) and the 2004 Ballerina Handicap (G1). Lady Tak also produced Japanese black-type stakes winner A Shin Spartan (Zensational).

Partners Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Heiligbrodt Racing, and Edward McGhee bred Melody Lady in Kentucky. She was sold at the 2011 Keeneland September sale for $150,000 to dissolve the breeding partnership and went on to race for Hill 'n' Dale and McGhee under the guidance of trainer Steve Asmussen.

Melody Lady has a yearling full brother to Buy Sell Hold and delivered a colt by Bayern   April 5.

Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures also bred Cloud Computing, who finished second in the Gotham Stakes (G2) and third in the Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets (G2). The colt by second-crop sire Maclean's Music   is expected to pass the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and aim for the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Violence, a son of Medaglia d'Oro  , was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm. Steve Marshall's Black Rock Stables bought him out of Hill 'n' Dale's consignment at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale for $600,000 through agents Nick Sallusto and Hanzly Albina.

The colt became one of the winter book favorites for the 2013 Kentucky Derby. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he won at Saratoga Race Course in his debut at 2 and then took the Nashua Stakes (G2). He closed out the year with a score in the CashCall Futurity (G1).

Violence sustained a fracture to his right front medial sesamoid after finishing second to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Orb   in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). His runner-up effort in the Fountain of Youth was his only race at 3. He was retired with a record of 3-1-0 from four starts and earnings of $623,000. He stands for $15,000.