Buy Sell Hold Takes Kentucky Juvenile Stakes

In the first major-circuit stakes of the year for 2-year-olds, Buy Sell Hold battled down the stretch with McErin and held off a late bid from Amberspatriot to win the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill Downs May 4. 

Sent of as the betting favorite, the Violence   filly owned by Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen became the freshman sire's first stakes winner. She was also Violence's first starter and winner during the Keeneland spring meet.

MITCHELL: Violence's First Starter Gets Commanding Win

"She's a very special filly," Asmussen said. "The second dam is Lady Tak, one of my favorite horses of all time and a millionaire. This filly started out at my dad's place in Laredo, Texas, and he did a phenomenal job with her. She came over for only her second race and acted very professional and was ready to go."

Waterford Stable's homebred McErin, a son of Trappe Shot  , took the early lead, sprinting away to fractions of :22.15 and :45.39 for the half-mile.

At the top of the turn for home, Buy Sell Hold confronted the colt and fought bravely through the stretch. Buy Sell Hold, with Florent Geroux aboard, completed the five furlongs in :58.33 to win by a neck over Amberspatriot, a daughter of Awesome Patriot  .

"She's very nice," Geroux said. "She's well-bred and well-behaved. That's why she won today. She broke sharp and got herself into a good position despite the post. She showed a lot of heart and ability today."

McErin finished a nose behind for third in the tight finish and another Awesome Patriot filly, Waki Patriot, took fourth place. 

Bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures, Buy Sell Hold is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Melody Lady. Grade 1 winner Violence has stood at Hill 'n' Dale for a fee of $15,000 since 2014.