WinStar Farm‘s Independence Hall Sires First Winner as Freely Held Dominates at Delaware Park
Freely Held became freshman sire Independence Hall’s first winner with a commanding 6 1/2-length victory in a maiden special weight at Delaware Park on Thursday.
The 2-year-old colt, who finished as runner-up at 28-1 odds in his debut at Parx on July 21, broke sharply from his outside post position in the 5 1/2-furlong contest. He completed the distance in 1:05.80 over a fast track.
Freely Held faced pressure from even-money favorite Black Volt (Cairo Prince) around the far turn after setting an opening quarter in :22.54. The pair battled briefly before Freely Held reasserted command at the top of the stretch, drawing clear impressively at odds of 5-1. Bootleg Runner (Runhappy) rallied late to secure second place ahead of the betting favorite.
The winner is trained by Daniel Velazquez for Happy Tenth Stable. Bred in Kentucky by Three Lyons Racing, LLC, Freely Held was purchased for $30,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale before commanding $75,000 at this year’s OBS April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
His dam Kept (Exchange Rate) is a half-sister to stakes winner Welcome Home, who produced multiple graded stakes-placed and stakes winner Pool Winner (Broken Vow) and multiple stakes-placed Sounds of the City (Street Cry {Ire}). Kept has a yearling filly by Thousand Words and a weanling colt by Mitole. She was bred to Speaker’s Corner for the 2026 season.
Independence Hall, who stands at WinStar Farm, has now established himself with his first winner from his initial crop of 2-year-olds.
Freely Held, 2yo C by INDEPENDENCE HALL 🔔, is dominant at @DelParkRacing breaking his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths!
Congratulations to breeder, Three Lyons Racing!#BellRinger pic.twitter.com/g6BWZxw4D6
— WinStar Farm (@WinStarFarm)
Freely Held, 2yo C by INDEPENDENCE HALL 🔔, is dominant at August 15, 2025
