Media Darling put on quite a show in his Dec. 19 debut at Mahoning Valley, rolling to a 5 ½-length win in a six-furlong maiden special weight affair.
The 2-year-old colt is the 32nd individual winner for Sharp Azteca, which leads all First-Crop sires, and more impressively, leads all sires of 2-year-olds, ahead of standouts such as Into Mischief, Goldencents and Justify.
Media Darling was headed by Bad Boy Boogie in the early stages, but recovered quickly to take a one-length lead at the quarter-mile mark. From there, he was never really threatened, drawing off at the top of the stretch to win as he pleased in 1:12.12.
The winner is owned by his breeder Nancy Larvich. The dark bay colt is the second foal out of Dark Darling, a multiple stakes-placed winner who is a full sister to the millionaire Rivers Run Deep.
