Independence Hall targeting Sam F. Davis off Jerome win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Independence Hall will head to Florida next week with an undefeated record but still some things to work on and prove before being considered a legitimate contender for the May 2 Kentucky Derby.

Independence Hall won Wednesday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes by four lengths, overcoming some pre-race misbehavior and a slow break from the gate to dominate a modest field of horses. His three wins – including the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes by 12 1/4 lengths on Nov. 3 – have come in races run around one turn.

His next start will definitely be around two turns, with the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis on Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs a likely target. Independence Hall will be one of approximately six horses Trombetta plans to ship from Maryland to Tampa Bay Downs on Monday.

On Thursday, Trombetta said the combination of a serene environment, a good surface, and consistent weather made Tampa a logical spot to winter.

“It’s the right kind of track to get a good bottom under your horse and not miss time due to ice and snow,” Trombetta said.

Independence Hall is owned in part by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing. In 2016, they won the Sam F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby with Destin, who finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and got beat a nose in the Belmont Stakes.

In 2017, Eclipse was part owner of Tapwrit, who won the Tampa Bay Derby and, after running sixth in the Kentucky Derby, won the Belmont Stakes.

Last year, Win Win Win, trained by Trombetta, won the Pasco Stakes and finished third in the Tampa Bay Derby en route to participating in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Trombetta said he doesn’t have any concerns about Independence Hall handling two turns. His sire, Constitution, was a two-time Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles. Constitution missed the classics due to a hairline fracture sustained three weeks before the 2014 Kentucky Derby.

“He’s not an anxious horse and he’s responsive to the rider,” Trombetta said. “I’m not worried about it, but obviously everything’s two turns from here.”

Independence Hall may not be anxious in his races, but for the second time he was anxious in the paddock. Wednesday, he kicked the back wall of the saddling stall and nearly sat down in the stall at one point. He kicked out with his back legs while being walked. Trombetta said that Independence Hall also was ornery in the paddock before the Nashua.

“We’ll keep working with him,” Trombetta said. “I don’t know what part of his lineage he gets that from, but he’s got a temper.”

In the Jerome, Independence Hall got away last under and was maneuvered three wide into the clear by Jose Ortiz. Independence Hall took over entering the far turn, and he polished off the race with some encouragement from Ortiz.

Independence Hall covered the mile over a deep track labeled good in 1:37.27 and was assigned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. He earned 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.

“Jose didn’t have any worries, he was upbeat about it,” said Trombetta, who said Thursday the colt came out of the race in good order. “His take on it was the track was much deeper than what he ran on last time, he had to do a little bit more to accomplish what we needed to. When you factor in the way he broke, factor in he parked him a bit wide, I think everybody’s content that it went well.”