How’s this for a Valentine? Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ FONDLY was all heart to win her first start this afternoon, a 7-furlong maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs.

Breaking on the rail, the 3-year-old Upstart filly “tracked on the inside, moved up along the rail on the turn, then was in tight and steadied nearing the quarter pole, angled out entering the stretch, rallied three wide, closed willingly, charged to the front and won going away.” Going away indeed; unleashing a powerful kick, she hit the wire four lengths ahead of her seven rivals under Samuel Marin.

Fondly was bred in Kentucky by the late Governor Brereton C. Jones and foaled at his Airdie Stud, long-time Herringswell clients. She is out of the Istan mare Lifetime Memory, a daughter of another of Graham’s former trainees, the graded stakes winning Silver Reunion.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners purchased Fondly for $50,000 from the Airdrie consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2023. Congratulations to Aron Wellman and the rest of the partners on this impressive maiden-breaker!