Indiana | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pearl Tiara Shines As Majestic Harbor Fillies Go One-Two In Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes

Pearl Tiara and Fernando De La Cruz pulled away from the field for an impressive upset in the 13th running of the $75,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes, Filly Division, at Indiana Grand Wednesday, June 23. The duo covered the one and one-sixteenth mile event in a time of 1:45.60 to score their second consecutive victory in 2021.

Starting from post three, Pearl Tiara broke well to get into early position as Found My Man and Sammy Bermudez set the early tempo. The leader was joined by Pearl Tiara at the midway point for a challenge with Pearl Tiara taking over in the final turn of the race.

In the stretch, De La Cruz asked Pearl Tiara for another gear and she responded, posting an eight and three-quarter length advantage at the wire. Diamond Solitaire and Alex Achard finished second with Verry Amelia and Santo Sanjur rounding out the trifecta.

Pearl Tiara paid $13.80 for the win. The homebred daughter of Majestic Harbor is now two for three in 2021. Overall, she has three wins in nine starts and increased her career bankroll to more than $119,000.

Pearl Tiara was born and raised by David Osborne, Loren Hebel-Osborne and Carol Hebel at their Deerfield Farm in Prospect, Ky. The sophomore filly is by their stallion, Majestic Harbor, who stood at Swifty Farms in Indiana before relocating to California.

Both Pearl Tiara and Diamond Solitaire, the second-place finisher in the Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Filly Stakes, were part of Osborne's breeding operation and have grown up together. Diamond Solitaire, who lost her mother two weeks after she was born, has truly shined on the track, pushing over the $90,000 mark in earnings. The filly became syndicated and is the reason a large partnership is trackside every time she races at Indiana Grand. The partnership includes the Osbornes and Gene McLean, who are breeders on the filly.

“Having Pearl (Tiara) and Diamond (Solitaire) finish one-two in the stakes race for Majestic Harbor is a thrill,” said Loren Hebel-Osborne. “And, this is the first time Pearl has beaten Diamond. We saw Diamond start moving toward her and thought she might catch her, but Pearl said, 'not today.' And, it marks the first stakes winner for Majestic Harbor.”

Majestic Harbor was named Leading First Crop Sire in California last year. The latest tag of stakes winning sire also makes him the current Leading Second Crop Sire for California as well.

“He earned leading first crop sire in California without a stakes winner,” said David Osborne. “Although it's based on his Indiana foals, it is determined in the state where he currently stands.”

The Osbornes still have Pearl Tiara's dam, Pearl Pendant, and she is currently in California back in foal to Majestic Harbor. In addition to sharing “jewelry themed names,” both Diamond Solitaire and Pearl Tiara also share space when at the Deerfield Farm.

“These two (Pearl Tiara and Diamond Solitaire) spent the winter together and were in the same paddock and same barn,” added David Osborne. “So, they are very familiar with one another.”

Majestic Harbor's first crop consisted of 10 foals, nine of which were fillies, including Diamond Solitaire and Pearl Tiara. Tim Glyshaw trains Pearl Tiara, who is not the first representative for the Osbornes. Glyshaw also trained Unreachable Star, second on the list of All-time Leading Indiana Sired money earners with more than $784,000 in career earnings.

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Purse Increases Announced At Indiana Grand

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has announced purse increases for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, effective Tuesday, July 6. The increase will add 10 percent onto all Thoroughbred overnights and roughly $1,000 to each Quarter Horse overnight and trials, which reflects approximately a six percent increase for the sprinters.

“We have had a great season so far in 2021 and we are pleased to announce this purse increase across the board for our horsemen,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. “This boost is a direct result of elevated business levels that continue to be strong this year. We appreciate the support from our racing fans, and we are working hard to continue offering a solid, competitive program for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.

The purse increase will go into effect two days before Indiana Grand's biggest race of the season, the 27th running of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby set for Wednesday, July 7. A total of six stakes offering purses in excess of $840,000 will be provided during the late afternoon program beginning at 2:25PM. The Indiana Derby is joined by the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks on the card that has set new track all-source handle records the past three seasons. Stakes purses will remain at their current levels and will not be affected by the purse increase.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Monday, Nov. 8. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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Ignacio Correas’ Stable Named Barn Crew Of The Month At Indiana Grand

Trainer Ignacio Correas IV has raced at Indiana Grand frequently in the past on a ship-in basis, but 2021 marks the first year he has stabled on the grounds. His crew was recognized for their hard work in the shed row as June's Barn Crew of the Month, presented by the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and Texas Corral.

Under the direction of assistant trainer Hiram Rosario, the Correas Stable members oversee 25 horses in Barn 16 at Indiana Grand. Each horse receives top care and the workspace is kept in great order, two aspects noticed by the selection committee and important for consideration for the award.

“Everybody works hard, and this is a good group,” said Rosario, who has worked for Correas for the past five years. “They are good people and do a great job.”

Correas, who also has 20 horses at Keeneland, is a native of Argentina. He began training in 2003, but his stable really took off in 2011. He has 12 members on his crew at Indiana Grand. Those who are part of the team include Salomon Cuida, Herlindo Fabian, Elizabeth Cuida, Jose Santizo, Emmanuel Santizo, Zoritza Patino, Marifer Garcia, Jomar Benitez and Jesus Torres.

The team at the Correas Stable received a $200 gift certificate to Texas Corral, located on the north side of Shelbyville. The entire team will enjoy a night out for steaks, seafood, and drinks as the recipient of Barn Crew of the Month.

In addition to the gift certificate, a banner will be hung on the outside of the Correas barn to signify the award winners for the month of June.

A total of six Barn Crew of the Month awards will be presented during the 2021 racing season, which extends into November.

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Full Time: Pedroza Plans To Ride 7 Days A Week Between Ellis Park, Indiana Grand

Ellis Park's riding colony the past few years has been pretty much an extension of Churchill Downs' jockey population. This summer the Ellis jocks' room also will look a lot like Indiana Grand.

Ellis Park opens Sunday June 27 and runs through Sept. 4. With racing Fridays through Sundays, its schedule dovetails seamlessly with Indiana Grand, which this year runs Mondays through Thursdays. The only overlap between the tracks three hours apart is Thursday, July 1.

One could ride full-time at both tracks — if one doesn't mind riding seven days a week all summer. And Marcelino Pedroza doesn't. He, along with DeShawn Parker and Fernando De La Cruz, headlines the prominent Indiana jockeys looking to make hay at the Pea Patch.

“I'm so young, that if I can do it right now, why not?” the 28-year-old Pedroza said. “I missed a lot of days last year, probably rode only three months. So I feel fresh.”

Pedroza was sidelined for four months in early 2020 with a fractured collar bone, returning to ride nine races in May before an elbow injury kept him off another 3 1/2 months. He came back as strong as ever, winning 49 races at New Orleans' Fair Grounds over the winter to finish sixth in the standings. He currently leads at Indiana Grand with 27 victories since that meet began April 13.

Parker possesses 5,864 career victories, including leading the nation in 2010 and 2011. The jockey, who began riding in 1988, spent much of his career in West Virginia and then Texas before relocating in 2017 to Indiana Grand, where he already is No. 8 all-time in victories. He won his first Indiana Grand title with 106 victories during last year's COVID-shortened meet and currently ranks third with 18. Parker was honored in March as recipient of the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, voted on by riders nationally to recognize one of their own for an outstanding career and character.

The Peruvian-born De La Cruz won Indiana Grand's 2014 and 2016 riding crowns. He is the track's all-time riding leader in purse earnings at more than $25 million in the track's 19-year history. His 35 stakes victories in the state also are a record. He joins all-time track leader Rodney Prescott as the only jockey with more than 1,000 wins at Indiana Grand.

Jose Batista, who has 14 wins at Indiana Grand this meet, likewise will ride both tracks. In addition to record purses at Ellis Park, clearly the jockeys are hoping that a greater presence this summer in Kentucky sets up opportunities in the fall at Churchill Downs and Keeneland.

“There are a lot of good horses to ride in Kentucky,” De La Cruz said on the Churchill Downs backstretch. “That's the reason I'm with my agent walking around here, trying to get some good business.”

The Panamanian-born Pedroza was a fixture at Ellis earlier in his career. He won 20 races to tie for third in the 2015 riding standings and also was third in 2013 with 23.

Pedroza also leads at Indiana Grand this meet in purse earnings ($698,156) and mounts (161) as he pursues his third riding title at the Shelbyville track. He was leading rider in 2017 and then ran away with the 2019 Indiana Grand title, his 152 wins and $3,407,744 in purses records for the 120-date meet.

“Last year I was hurt, so that doesn't count,” Pedroza, who lives in Louisville, said recently at Churchill Downs. “And the year before that, I was doing so well at Indiana that I wasn't thinking about (riding at Ellis). I wasn't riding here at Churchill, so I wasn't worried about riding anywhere else than Indiana. Now I'm thinking to do more.”

While he has ridden sparingly at Churchill Downs so far this meet, Pedroza has made the most of limited opportunities. That includes winning the $150,000 Aristides Stakes on Bango and finishing second in the Grade 3 Matt Winn aboard O Besos, who four weeks earlier rallied to be fifth in Pedroza's first Kentucky Derby. Both horses are trained by Greg Foley.

“It was a great experience, I don't even have the words,” Pedroza said of the Derby. “It was a big dream come true. No excuses. The horse ran big.”

Asked about Pedroza, Foley said, “Marcelino is a good rider, period. A good kid, class act. I like him. I wouldn't have ridden him in the Derby if I didn't think he could ride.”

The Indiana jockeys will add to an already strong riding colony that should feature most of the Churchill Downs regulars. That includes 2020 Ellis leader Joe Talamo, 2019 champ James Graham, Corey Lanerie (five Ellis titles), Rafael Bejarano (two titles), two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Julien Leparoux, former apprentice Eclipse Award winners Brian Hernandez and Shaun Bridgmohan, along with Miguel Mena, Adam Beschizza, Gabriel Saez, Mitchell Murrill, Colby Hernandez, Declan Cannon and others. In addition, Louisville product Drayden Van Dyke will be based at Ellis Park for the first time this summer after making the move to Kentucky earlier this spring from California.

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