Indiana sired and bred horses will be in the spotlight Wednesday, Oct. 28 for the inaugural Indiana Champions Day at Indiana Grand. The event features 12 races, including four stakes, with purses for the day of more than $550,000.
Two of Indiana's past superstars are honored with the inaugural running of races in their honor. The $100,000 Lady Fog Horn and the $100,000 Unreachable Star will be joined by the 22nd running of the $75,000 Crown Ambassador and the 23rd running of the $75,000 Indiana Stallion Fillies.
Expect Indy has been tagged as the early morning line favorite in the Lady Fog Horn Stakes running at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles. The seven-year-old Indiana sired standout from the Cipriano Contreras Stable will be seeking her second straight win in stakes action at Indiana Grand. She was a winner in her last start in the $75,000 Richmond Stakes. Expect Indy starts from post three with Emmanuel Esquivel aboard at odds of 2-5. Gumpster Stable owns the Mr. Mabee mare, who has in excess of $540,000 in career earnings.
Unbridled Beast is the overwhelming favorite in the Unreachable Star Stakes, slated as Race 11 on the program. The grey son of Unbridled Express, 2019 Champion Sire in Indiana, is currently on a four-race win streak, including two stakes in his last two outings. Trained by Randy Matthews, Unbridled Beast will begin from post eight at even odds with Rodney Prescott aboard for owner Mike Neafus and Matthews.
Betsdownletsride will start off the Crown Ambassador Stakes as the early choice at odds of 1-5. The Sangaree freshman gelding is undefeated in three starts this year for owners Darlene and Herb Likens. Contreras also trains Betsdownletsride, who will be ridden by Esquivel from post one.
The Indiana Stallion Fillies kicks off stakes action on the card in Race 7 with Hungarian Princess listed as the early morning line favorite. Starting from post two at odds of 2-5, the Pataky Kid filly, owned and bred by Swifty Farms, was more than a six-length winner in her last start in the City of Anderson Stakes. Trained by Kim Hammond, Hungarian Princess will seek to add another win to her credentials with Sammy Bermudez aboard.
Indiana Champions Day will include numerous awards, including a special “Back on Track Champions” to a group of five members of the Indiana General Assembly, who were key to reopening racing earlier this year after COVID-19 shutdowns. Also, 2019 award winners will be announced and the first 100 guests who visit the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) tent will receive a snack pack, including a betting voucher. Several philanthropic donations are also part of the afternoon's activities. The 12-race program begins at 2:05 PM.
Racing continues Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.
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