We are heading into a Code Blue weather warning for this Christmas weekend here in Fair Hill, but last night PARACLETE turned in a stylish maiden-breaking performance under the lights at Turfway Park where it was a comparatively balmy 33 degrees!

It was the 4th career start for the 2-year-old son of Grade 1 winner Volatile, and he was guided by Vincent Cheminaud in the 8 1/2 furlong test on Turfway’s all weather surface.

“Paraclete perfect position inside to far turn, angled out for clear run and scampered clear late.” (Extra points for the creative verb in that one; if you watch the replay, that’s exactly what he did!) And Paraclete, according to Merriam-Webster, is a noun meaning “Holy Spirit.”

Scott Marcum, who runs under the name Marcano Racing LLC, purchased Paraclete last May from Fasig-Tipton Midlantic’s Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale at Timonium for $80,000. Bred in Kentucky by Rebecca Farms, LLC, Paraclete is out of Miss Hermes, by Lemon Drop Kid.

Congratulations to all on his first win!