It was a performance worthy of Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ honors for MCKINZIE’s Fancy Fairlane when the 3-year-old broke his maiden in his second start at Oaklawn Park on Sunday.
Racing over the same six furlongs he made his debut at in this Maiden Special Weight, the Greg Foley trainee sat back behind two others early on. He was happy to let those set quick fractions early before angled four paths wide for the stretch run.
His inexperience showed in the closing stages with jockey John Velazquez correcting him, but it didn’t stop his momentum with Fancy Fairlane winning by 4 ¾ lengths.
The McKinzie (@Gainesway) gelding #3 FANCY FAIRLANE ($9.00) broke his maiden in R8 at @OaklawnRacing. @ljlmvel was in the irons for @Foley_Racing. pic.twitter.com/LphSvVKcTh
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 1, 2026
Racing for Terry Stephens, he was bred by Drumkenny Farm and American Equistock out of the Sky Mesa mare Count on Caroline. He’s the first foal to race out of that mare, who is a half-sister to four-time stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Sweet Cassiopeia and the multiple Grade 3-placed All Star Red.
This is also the family of Horse of the Year Knicks Go and Grade 1 winner Countus In.
Count On Caroline is also the dam of OLYMPIAD’s $290,000 Fasig-Tipton October graduate Olympic Champ.