Creative Credit, ridden by Tommy Pompell, earned her first career stakes win in the second running of the $100,000 Clarksville Stakes Wednesday, July 13, at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The duo covered the five-furlong turf race to set a new stakes record of :55.50 seconds.
Pompell had Creative Credit ready to go as soon as the gates opened and was on top from post three to battle early with Elle Z and Mitchell Murrill on the outside. Creative Credit held her ground throughout the one-turn event and in the stretch, she kept her advantage all the way to the finish line to win by three-quarters of a length over Elle Z. Cashable and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. finished third.
“”I was told to go with the 6 and to not let her go off on her own,” said Pompell. “She's a really fast horse, there's not much instruction I need to ride her. She always breaks really well, and she did today, and she got me going and set me up so we could win.”
Creative Credit was a small surprise to bettors, paying $12.60 for the win. The chestnut mare is owned, trained, and bred by Richard Finucane who has a farm in Kentucky. She is the second generation to run for Finucane, who also campaigned her mother, Credit Crunch, to more than $220,000 in career earnings.
“She (Credit Crunch) set a track record here for seven and a half furlongs on the turf,” said Finucane. “For as good of a racehorse as she was, she was a terrible brood mare. This is the only foal that survived.”
Creative Credit is doing more than surviving for Finucane. She earned her third straight win and is three for four in 2022. Her career earnings were just boosted to more than $146,000 with her win in the Clarksville Stakes.
“I told Tommy (Pompell), if she breaks like she did the other day, you know what to do, and he did,” added Finucane. “I literally train in my back yard. I've been racing for a long time and it's always good to get a stakes win.”
Making the trophy presentation on behalf of Caesars Race and Sportsbook at Clarksville was Brian Lewis, general manager of the facility, located just across the Ohio River from Louisville. Joining Lewis was Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.
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