Vending Machine made his turf debut a winning one when he rallied from just off the pace to take the eight-furlong Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita December 30.
Settled just off the lead in third through the early stages of the race, the two-year-old son of Hard Spun began to close in on the leaders on the far turn. Vending Machine drew alongside longtime leader Cistron on the far turn, and the duo matched strides briefly entering the homestretch before Vending Machine put that rival away took the lead. The chestnut colt had enough left in the tank to hold off the late rally of Soglio to win by three-quarters of a length.
Vending Machine was bred in Kentucky by Jellystone Holdings LLC, and is out of the Stormy Atlantic mare, Maggies Storm. Vending Machine is a half-brother to Comma To The Top, winner of the G1 CashCall Futurity and G3 Tom Fool Stakes, and hails from the female family of G3 Virginia Handicap winner, Maggies Pistol.
Hard Spun is the sire of 2016 Australian G1 winner Le Romain, as well as Graded winners Turnitaround, Fursa, Hard Aces, Promising Run, Big John B, Khusoosy and Reload.
Hard Spun will stand the 2017 season at Jonabell Farm for $45,000, stands and nurses.
