Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry’s bred and owned, Basketball Jones, the 3 year-old full brother to their accomplished filly Dixie Moon, made his first career start a winning one today in the second race at Woodbine for trainer Catherine Day Phillips.
Battling at the front of the field for the majority of the 7 furlong sprint on the turf, Basketball Jones made it clear that he was not going to back down.
Jockey Antonio Gallardo settled the youngster while keeping pace on the lead and despite a glimmer of greenness in the stretch, the colt made sure he was the one in front at the wire to capture the win in the maiden special weight with a purse of $91,866.
Bred in Ontario, Basketball Jones is by Curlin out of the Fitzhenry’s mare, Dixie Chicken, by Rahy and is full brother to Dixie Moon, the 2018 Woodbine Oaks winner who was also trained by Catherine Day Phillips.