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MadisonMaking her second career start, the 3-year-old Quality Road filly Madison Avenue shot to the front and led the field from the half-mile pole to the finish in the one-mile maiden special weight at Laurel Park on March 16, drawing off to an impressive five-length score. Carrying the colors of David and JoAnn Hayden’s Dark Hollow Farm, the Phil Schoenthal trainee is fulfilling the promise first noticed by bloodstock agent Marette Farrell at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“Marette is a star when it comes to picking out horses,” said David Hayden. A friend of the Haydens, Marette made a call from the Keeneland sale. When Marette says she “fell in love with this filly,” it’s worth noting. Walking into the ring as hip 3828, the bay Kentucky-bred was very immature, but would be worth the wait. And she offered a ton of pedigree. The Haydens decided to go for it and got her $37,000, about half what they expected to pay.

 

Madison Avenue is out of the A.P. Indy mare Philly’s Philly, a half-sister to graded and group winners Woke Up Dreamin, Denomination and Lemon Drop Dream. Her second dam is by Storm Cat, her third dam is two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf mare Flawlessly, by Triple Crown winner Affirmed. A half-sister to two six-figure sales yearlings, Madison Avenue had just turned 2 when her year-older half-brother Everybodyluvsrudy hit the board in stakes company at Laurel in 2017.

The Haydens have been patient with Madison Avenue, giving her time to mature and grow while she was learning her early lessons with Cary Frommer. The filly has rewarded their patience, and her stock is rising as a promising broodmare prospect.

“We’re trying to up the quality of our broodmare band,” said David, who notes Dark Hollow Farm doesn’t buy many young horses to race, but will look to add a yearling filly with a good pedigree, along with acquisitions of promising broodmares, each of the next five years. A winning daughter by rising sire star Quality Road from the family of champion Flawlessly is one that fits the bill!