Everyone loves a winner. But it can be said that first-time winner Mona Luna is even a bit more special.

Yes, the daughter of Uncle Mo out of graded stakes winner Luna Time is bred to be special. And yes, she is a second generation homebred for Dorsey Brown and Rich Palmer, longtime Dark Hollow Farm clients and great friends of David and JoAnn Hayden. And her win brought back great memories as it came in the same month over the same distance and surface six years after the first win for her magical dam.

But there is the deeper connection between the orphan foal and those who have loved and followed her.

Mona Luna is the first and only foal for Luna Time, when a seemingly normal foaling in January 2017 turned tragic. “When Luna Time delivered her big, beautiful Uncle Mo filly, she couldn’t get up,” remembers JoAnn. “Everybody tried to get her up but she just couldn’t stand and we lost her.”

Luna Time’s bay filly was raised on the nursemare Big Red and took everything in stride. “This foal was always like an old soul – she was never like a baby – she just adjusted to everything so well,” JoAnn added. “She is a monster in size – everyone took their time. She is big, precocious, wonderful and smart.”

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Mona Luna was unraced at 2, and placed twice on the turf this year before breaking through with her off-the-turf main track win at Laurel on Aug. 20. Pressured for the first half mile, she set every fraction and drew off to win by three and a half lengths going a mile and an eighth.

Dorsey Brown and Rich Palmer had such high hopes for Luna Time as a broodmare after the daughter of Malibu Moon retired with four wins in nine outings after breaking her maiden at Saratoga at 3, and winning Delaware Park’s Gr. 3 Obeah Stakes in her final start.

The loss of Luna Time was hard on everybody. To see her daughter get to the races and get her first win is ultra special for everyone connected, and the Haydens are especially happy for their dear friends.“It makes the successes so much more exciting,” said JoAnn.