Free Drop Billy

Free Drop Billy overcame a troubled start to win his career debut impressively at Churchill Downs in June 2017. He rallied gamely in his second start in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course but came up just short and finished second in his stakes debut. In his next start, Free Drop Billy once again finished second, this time by a neck to Sporting Chance in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. He had to alter course late when the winner drifted out, but no change was made in the order of finish.

In his next start, and his first around two turns, Free Drop Billy put it all together to pick up a Grade 1 win by four lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 7, earning an automatic berth in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Free Drop Billy disappointed in the Juvenile, finishing ninth, but made a good comeback in his first start as a 3-year-old, checking in second behind Audible in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 3.

After initially targeting the Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 3, Free Drop Billy was rerouted to the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes a week later and finished third, beaten by 6 3/4 lengths. he finished third again in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, following the disqualification of Sporting Chance, which gave him sufficient points to qualify for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

In the Kentucky Derby, Free Drop Billy broke slow and was never a threat, finishing 16^th out of 20 horses.

Free Drop Billy is out of the mare Trensa, a stakes-placed daughter of Giant’s Causeway who is also the dam of European Group 1 winner Hawkbill.