He Is No Lie

Picked up as an OBS March grad just two months ago for $150,000, He Is No Lie (Early Voting) lit up a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita Friday, wiring the field by a widening margin under wraps to become his juvenile sire's (by Gun Runner) second winner and first 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'.

His wide draw proved of little consequence as this 2-5 favorite, facing six Californa-bred rivals, was pressed on to clear the inside traffic. Responding in kind to that ask, He Is No Lie sprinted to the front with mild pressure only from second-time starter Jonny's Cap (Acclamation) who hung around just briefly against the rail.

That pair opened up a sizable gap on the rest of the juveniles but, by the time they hit the far turn, the favorite was already pulling away in spades and doing so under a motionless Emisael Jaramillo.

Coming home with just a few left-handed reminders to stay off the rail, He Is No Lie was wrapped up on through the final sixteenth, cruising home in a sharp final time of :51.88 for the 4 1/2 furlongs, the fastest such debut over the distance in just over five years. 42-1 longshot Cupid Cowboy (Stay Thirsty) led in the rest of field who were eight lengths back of the winner.

“He's a super handsome colt who has not missed a beat since the sale,” winning trainer Doug O'Neill told the TDN after the race. “I'll huddle up with Mark Davis, Janie Buss [from Purple Rein Racing] and their racing manager, Joe Miller, to come up with a plan [for his next start].”

First dam Truth in the Lies, placed in a pair of stakes races and an earner of over $361,000 herself, sold to Crestwood Farm as a $19,000 broodmare out of the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. She is a half-sister to MSW Trueamericanspirit (Is It True). Now the dam of two winners from three to race, she has a yearling filly by Vekoma still to represent her and was covered for this year by Stage Raider.

Early Voting, who fittingly for this weekend was himself a winner in the GI Preakness Stakes, stands at Taylor Made Stallions.

6th-Santa Anita, $73,800, Msw, 5-15, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :51.88, ft, 8 lengths.
HE IS NO LIE, c, 2, Early Voting
            1st Dam: Truth in the Lies {MSP, $361,002},
                        by Hold Me Back
            2nd Dam: Ms. Misery, by Silver Ghost
            3rd Dam: Satan's Bride, by Skywalker
Sales History: $70,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '26 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Purple Rein Racing (Barton; Buss) and Davis, Mark D.; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill.