Spendthrift colt a “Rising Star” following Keeneland unveiling
October 21, 2022
Victory Formation cruises in his Oct. 21, 2022 debut at Keeneland – Coady photography
Victory Formation went to the lead and never looked back in a $100,000 maiden special weight race Friday at Keeneland, drawing off in the stretch to win by 4 ¾-lengths.
The 2-year-old colt, the first horse owned by the partnership Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc., hustled to the lead out of the gate to get the first quarter-mile in :23.03. Going very easily around the turn, he drew off with ease at the top of the stretch and was all alone the rest of the trip. The winner covered the 6 1/2-furlongs in 1:17.94 on a fast track and was named a “TDN Rising Star” for his debut effort.
“This is our first start, first horse; we couldn’t be happier,” Spendthrift’s general manager Ned Toffey said. “Eric (Gustavson) has wanted to partner on horses so we’ve been looking for people that kind of have similar interests as ours. Liz (Crow) does a great job of selecting so it was just a perfect fit and so far so good.”
Trained by Brad Cox, Victory Formation was purchased by his owners for $340,000 out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in Training sale this past May. The bay colt is out of Smart n Soft, whose dam Softly won the Churchill Downs Distaff H. (G2).