Indiana Oaks | Horse Racing Free Tips

Expanded 2021 Stakes Schedule at Indiana Grand

The 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino will feature an expanded stakes schedule of 40 races worth over $3.65 million. The stakes schedule is highlighted by the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby, which will be held at mid-week for the second time when it is run July 7. That Wednesday card's six-stakes lineup also includes the $200,000 GIII Indiana Oaks.

“We moved Indiana Derby Day to Wednesday in 2020 due to crowd restrictions and other safety protocols in place due to COVID-19,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “The move proved to be very popular with racing fans across the nation and the Derby program set an all-time track record for total handle, just missing the $6-million mark. We feel by moving our big day to mid-week, the program receives the recognition it deserves with such high-quality stakes on the card.”

The track's Sept. 8 card will include the $150,000 Caesars S. and the $150,000 Indiana Grand. Those stakes–the state's richest turf races–will be complemented by the $75,000 Back Home Again S. and the $75,000 Circle City S., which sport new names in 2021. Both races were part of an online contest to rename several stakes, garnering more than 250 responses.

“Our online presence has jumped over the past year and we value the support of those racing fans,” added Halstrom. “We wanted to include them in revamping our 2021 stakes schedule and by offering a contest with a prize, it was a way to engage them in the process. We got some really good suggestions, which we have used on 12 stakes for the year.”

New to the Indiana Grand schedule in 2021 are the William Garrett S., the IU Hoosiers S., the Send it in Army S. and the Clarksville S. Each will offer a purse of $65,000.

“We saw an opportunity to add some open stakes to our summer lineup and we think this will create a lot of variety to our schedule,” said Chris Polzin, director of racing/racing secretary. “Plus, the Garrett and IU Hoosiers [set for Aug. 11] give us two more stakes to showcase on our turf course.”

The complete stakes schedule is available here.

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Shedaresthedevil Runs Away With Indiana Oaks

Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing Limited, and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil pulled off a convincing win in Wednesday evening's Grade 3 Indiana Oaks, dominating her rivals by five lengths as the 3-5 post time favorite. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Shedaresthedevil ran 1 1/16 miles over Indiana Grand's fast main track in 1:43.50.

The 3-year-old daughter of Daredevil earned 20 more points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, bringing her total points to 90, good for third on the leaderboard.

“She's a real sound filly,” said Cox. “We've had her since last November. She's just been spot on ever sense. She gives you a solid work every week, whatever you're looking for. She's a race horse. Very, very proud of her. i think she's only going to get better with more distance and maybe even when she gets older. She ran early as a 2-year-old. She's just a good filly. She really is.”

Miss T Too set the early fractions while Florent Geroux kept Shedaresthedevil in a clear second, about a length behind the leader. Shedaresthedevil drew even around the far turn and had a two-length advantage at the head of the lane. Geroux had to give the filly a couple of reminders down the lane when she appeared to be waiting on rivals, but Shedaresthedevil pulled away to win by five lengths on the wire.

“We expected her to run well,” Cox said. “She'd been training the part out of her last race at Churchill, where she ran a big race. It was a good trip, she responded well. I thought she looked great at the quarter pole. Florent had to kind of reach around and keep her alert the last sixteenth of a mile. He said she kind of got a little lost late. But when he asked her the last sixteenth, she really kicked on. Overall it was a big effort, exactly what we were looking for. I was real pleased with her.”

The pace-stalking Impeccable Style checked in second, while Bayerness was third. Fire Coral finished fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Shedaresthedevil is out of the Congrats mare Starship Warpspeed. Graded stakes-placed as a juvenile, the filly brought $280,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. For her new connections, Shedaresthedevil has now won two Grade 3 races, improving her overall record to 4-2-2 from nine starts for earnings of over $500,000.

“She's got enough points to get in (to the Kentucky Oaks),” Cox said when asked about the filly's next start. “I won't say we'll make it easy on her, but as easy on her as we can to try to get her into the Oaks the best way and get her there with some confidence.”

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Report: Martin Garcia Tests Positive for COVID-19

Jockey Martin Garcia has tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss his scheduled ride aboard Miss T Too (Into Mischief) for trainer Bill Mott in Wednesday night’s GIII Indiana Oaks. Daily Racing Form was first to report the news after speaking to Garcia’s agent Jay Fedor. Garcia was replaced by Julien Leparoux.

DRF said that Garcia, who had ridden at Ellis Park, Los Alamitos and Prairie Meadows in the last seven days, was tested Tuesday at Keeneland, a requirement to ride at the meeting which began Wednesday afternoon. Garcia rode at Churchill Downs for most of the month of June, DRF reported, but tested negative at that time. Fedor told DRF that Garcia was not displaying any of the coronavirus symptoms.

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Shedaresthedevil Indiana Oaks Headliner

Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), heroine of Oaklawn’s GIII Honeybee S. Mar. 7, is the clear-cut horse to beat in Wednesday evening’s GIII Indiana Oaks.

The bay followed a well-beaten third behind division heavyweights Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Venetian Harbor (Munnings) in the GIII Fantasy S. May 1 with a powerful optional claiming tally at Churchill Downs last time June 5.

“She ran a huge one,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We were looking just to get a race in her between the Fantasy and wherever we ended up, which ended up being the Indiana Oaks. She worked well all winter when we picked her up, and she’s just continued to improve all winter, all spring and into the summer. If she shows up, she’ll be tough.”

Bayerness (Bayern), two-for-two during her juvenile season, enters this first two-turn test following a well-beaten third in the seven-furlong GIII Dogwood S. June 6.

Alandra (Blame), third after trouble at the start in last term’s GI Darley Alcibiades S., ships in for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey off a facile allowance win in the Belmont mud June 11.

The Indiana Oaks carries 20-8-4-2 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks.

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