Tony Boloney battled gamely in the stretch of his career debut to prevail by a nose in the eighth race at Calder Race Course on Monday to become the first career winner for his Ocala-based sire Irish Road.

Trained by Bennie Stutts Jr. for Dominick Auricchio, the chestnut gelding completed the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race in 1:06.73 on a track rated as fast. Bred in Florida by Harold Fred Cason, Tony Boloney is out of the Precise End mare Sybelee.

A nine-year-old by Unbridled’s Song out of the stakes-winning Known Fact mare Twin Propeller, Irish Road stood the 2009 breeding season for an advertised fee of $1,500 at Signature Stallions in Reddick, Florida. He has 13 two-year-olds in his first crop.

Irish Road won five of nine career starts and earned $128,910 in two racing seasons.