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Indiana Grand Offers ‘Road to Louisville’ Contest

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will be hosting a “Road to Louisville” contest beginning in early 2022 and offering up to $50,000 in prize money. The 18-week contest begins Jan. 8 and continues to the Kentucky Derby May 7. The winner of the contest will have the option to purchase a yearling package at the 2022 ITOBA Fall Sale valued at $30,000, courtesy of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) along with Indiana Grand.

“Road to Louisville” is open to players both online and on-track at Indiana Grand and Clarksville OTB. Weekly and monthly prizes will be provided as points are cumulative throughout the event. The contest, which will include numerous races each week from select tracks, will be completed on Kentucky Derby Day to crown the overall winner of the $1,000 prize money and a chance to own a future Indiana racehorse.

“Our contests both online and on-track have become increasingly popular, and we wanted to do something to raise the stakes next season,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “After talking with ITOBA President Tom Mosley, we decided to partner with them on our current breeding and racing program, which is so lucrative right now. The idea was created to get one of our loyal racing fans involved with a hands-on ownership experience and enjoy a risk-free way to enjoy the thrill of Indiana Thoroughbred racing.”

If the winner opts in for the purchase of a yearling at the ITOBA Sale, they will receive up to $15,000 to purchase a yearling out of the sale, plus an additional $15,000 for care and training of the horse leading up to its racing debut in the summer of 2023. ITOBA is facilitating the details and assistance for the new owner and their new purchase.

“Road to Louisville” gets underway with the racing card from Gulfstream Park. Points are based on payouts for the selected horse in the contest races. Weekly prizes will be allotted to the top three players each week with the top handicapper receiving $150, second place receiving $100 and third place receiving $50. Prizes are doubled if the player is competing at either Indiana Grand or Clarksville OTB.

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Trainer Saffie Joseph Planning Make It Big’s Next Start

Red Oak Stable's Make It Big gave trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. good reason to start making plans along the Road to the Kentucky Derby when he captured the $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., Friday night.

The Gulfstream Park-based 2-year-old son of Neolithic earned 10 qualifying points for this year's first leg of the Triple Crown with a thoroughly professional half-length victory over Osbourne as the 6-5 favorite.

“We are, obviously, very excited. He was stepping up in class, shipping for the first time and going two turns [for the first time]. He handled it all as good as you could ask for,” said Joseph, who didn't venture to Oklahoma for the Springboard Mile. “He sat in the pocket, made a move down the backside, and was gutsy enough to hold off Osbourne.”

The Florida-bred colt, who was purchased at the OBS April sale for $120,000, sat off a contested pace, made a three-wide sweep on the far turn, and prevailed over Osbourne following a stretch-long battle to remain undefeated in three starts.

“The [Feb 5] Holy Bull might come a little quick, but everything is still in play. Maybe the Fountain of Youth,” Joseph said. “We'll talk it over with the ownership group and Rick Sacco, the stable manager. He was the one that recommended after he won last time that we should try this race [Springboard Mile]. It turned out a perfect choice of race.”

Distance wouldn't seem to be a concern for the long-striding colt.

“You would think the more distance the better. That's how he trained. Up until six weeks before he made his debut, he kind of seemed he'd go long, long, long,” Joseph said. “He was lacking that early speed. When we put blinkers on him, they gave him that dynamic, showing some speed. We already knew he had the stamina. He's really turned around.”

Make It Big debuted with a front-running 8 ½-length victory at seven furlongs Oct. 8 before winning the seven-furlong Juvenile for Florida-breds by 2 ¼ lengths following an awkward break Oct. 30.

“He led the first time. The second time, he sat off [the pace]. This time, he sat between horses. He keeps getting better and better, slowly but surely. He's going in the right direction, that's what you want,” Joseph said.

Jose Ortiz rode Make It Big Friday night, filling in for Edgard Zayas, who recently underwent shoulder surgery.

“I want to give credit to Edgard. He was going there to ride him, but then the shoulder surgery came up. Edgard was going to have surgery on a Monday, and he came out to work him on Sunday,” Joseph said. “Edgard showed the class and work ethic that he has. Full credit to him. He's a big part of the team and he's a big part of this horse's success.”

Joseph also trains Triple Crown prospect White Abarrio, who captured his first two races impressively before finishing third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 27.

“He's doing well. We gave him a little freshening. He's galloping, and he's going to have his first breeze back [Sunday],” Joseph said. “He's most likely going in the Holy Bull.”

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Joseph Eyes Triple Crown Trail With Make It Big

Red Oak Stables' Make It Big (Neolithic) may have earned a position on the Kentucky Derby trail with his win in Friday's Remington Springboard Mile S. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee accumulated 10 qualifying points to the Derby with his half-length victory over Osbourne (Tapiture) in Oklahoma.

“We are, obviously, very excited. He was stepping up in class, shipping for the first time and going two turns [for the first time]. He handled it all as good as you could ask for,” said Joseph. “He sat in the pocket, made a move down the backside, and was gutsy enough to hold off Osbourne.”

Make It Big, a $120,000 purchase at this year's OBS April sale, opened his career with an 8 1/2-length win against fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream Oct. 9 and added a victory in the Oct. 30 Ocala Stud Juvenile Sprint–both at seven furlongs–before shipping to Remington Park.

“The [Feb 5 GIII] Holy Bull might come a little quick, but everything is still in play. Maybe, the [Mar. 5 GII Fasig-Tipton] Fountain of Youth,” Joseph said of possible next starts for Make It Big. “We'll talk it over with the ownership group and Rick Sacco, the stable manager. He was the one that recommended, after he won last time, that we should try this race [Springboard Mile]. It turned out a perfect choice of race.”

Joseph said he thinks Make It Big will handle longer distances.

Joseph also trains Triple Crown prospect White Abarrio (Race Day), who captured his first two races impressively before finishing third in the Nov. 27 GII Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.

“He's doing well. We gave him a little freshening,” Joseph said of the colt who worked three furlongs in :36.00 (3/11) at Gulfstream Sunday. “He's most likely going in the Holy Bull.”

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Gulfstream’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Guaranteed At $350,000 Sunday

At Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Sunday's Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $350,000.

Multiple tickets with six winners on Saturday's card, featuring four graded stakes races, returned $4,395.34.

Sunday's Rainbow 6 will begin with Race 5, a $35,000 claiming event on the turf at a mile. The sequence includes a maiden special weight event for 2-year-old fillies that includes a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in American Pyramid, the Todd Pletcher-trained Greatitude owned by Repole Stable, and Friendship Road from the Shug McGaughey Stable. The ninth race, an optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf, will have stakes winners Shirl's Speight, Bemma's Boy, and Noble Indy.

The final leg of the sequence will see 2-year-olds going a mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta. Ghostinyou, a $250,000 purchase, makes his debut for leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. La Maquina, a $160,000 son of Quality Road, makes his debut for Danny Gargan while Todd Pletcher sends out Gooch Go Bragh, a $130,000 son of Distorted Humor.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

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