Fondly Passes Class Test in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks

New Kent, Va (March 15, 2025) – Making just her second career start in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Fondly passed the class test, wearing down her front-running foe Anonima late in the stretch to win by a half-length over the late-kicking Early On.

Trained by Graham Motion and piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Fondly covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.51.

After breaking sharply, Ortiz settled Fondly outside the eager Anonima who led the ranks through opening quarters of :23.49 and :46.58. The fillies kept close company through the turn, but in the stretch Anonima spurted away from Fondly. While their chasers You’ll Be Back and Icona Mama began to tire, Fondly kept finding more and doggedly ran down Anonima, wrestling away the advantage in the deep stretch and holding off the late heroics of Early On.

“It was only her second start, and we knew she could get the distance, but I didn’t want to use her energy early if I didn’t have to,” Ortiz said. “Last time she missed the break a little bit, but today she broke good, put me in a good position, and when the horse inside started to show speed, I let her go and stuck second. Down the stretch she kept coming all the way to the wire. My filly stepped up today.”

Anonima stayed on for third. Icona Mama held on for fourth and You’ll Be Back ran fifth. Low Key rounded out the order of finish.

Scoring in her first Oaks prep, Fondly earned 50 qualifying points, all but ensuring a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs. Early On picked up 25 points, and Anonima scored 15. You’ll Be Back pocketed 10 Oaks points, and Icona Mama added to 5 for a new total of 9 qualifying points.

Sent off as the post-time favorite, Fondly returned $4.40, $3, and $2.40. Early On paid $3.60 and $2.80. Anonima returned $3.

Bred in Kentucky by Brereton C Jones, Fondly is by Upstart and out of the Istan mare Lifetime Memory. Perfect in two starts, Fondly’s win in the Virginia Oaks built her bankroll to $169,200.

With Virginia Derby Day concluding the historic three-day spring meet, Colonial Downs’ expanded 2025 racing season will continue with 41 days of live racing each Wednesday through Saturday from July 9 through September 13.

“She kept coming late. She grinded all the way. She wasn’t quick out of the gates so we got a little behind but she made a good late run. Around the turn I wasn’t going anywhere and then when she turned for home, she gave me a good run.”

“She just couldn’t hang on. We’re pleased for the most part to get some black type on her. She just couldn’t hold on against those two horses from Florida. Being on the lead was kind of unplanned. I don’t think anybody went. She looked relaxed. I thought (Juarez rode her great. She didn’t have to be up front we didn’t tell him to go up front–I think she just took him there.