Second crop stallion Holy Boss was represented by his first black-type stakes winner Aug. 6 when Vance Scholars captured the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby at Laurel Park.
Vance Scholars, a $22,000 yearling acquisition by owner Steven Newby at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantc Eastern Fall Yearling Sale, was making his first start of 2022 on Saturday. The 3-year-old gelding had won twice as a 2-year-old for trainer Dale Capuano, breaking his maiden in his third try at Laurel Park.
Let go at 12-1 odds in the 1 3/16-mile Bald Eagle Derby, which was taken off the turf because of a rash of thunderstorms that struck the East Coast over the weekend, Vance Scholars was sent straight to the front under jockey Jorge Ruiz. Headed by Undercover Kitty around the final turn, Vance Scholars turned back that foe down the lane and drew away to a 2 1/2 length score.
He stopped the clock in a time of 1:58.29 on a main track rated fast.
Bred in Maryland by Anchor & Hope Farm, Vance Scholars is out of the Cat Thief mare Passionate Dancer. The dam of six winners from seven foals to race, Passionate Dancer has also produced stakes winners Reflector and Fast Pass.
Holy Boss, a graded stakes winning son of Street Boss, stood the 2022 breeding season at Anchor & Hope Farm for a fee of $2,500.
