Indiana | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maters N Taters A Big Hit In William Henry Harrison Stakes

Maters N Taters has long been a favorite among local fans due to his name. Now, he just got a little more popular with an upset victory in the 18th running of the $75,000 William Henry Harrison Stakes at Indiana Grand.

Maters N Taters has tactical speed. The question was whether he could clear the front out of the gate from an outside post in the six-furlong event. The 4-year-old Indiana sired son of Santiva quickly put those questions to rest as jockey Eddie Perez had him on the lead just a few steps out of the gate. Oscar PQ and Alex Achard went with the leader early from the inside, but by the turn, he had backed off as Maters N Taters crossed over to the rail to lead the way.

Around the turn, the field began to bunch up as they prepared to show their best stride in the stretch. Race favorite Double Tuff and Jesus Castanon led the pack behind Maters N Taters, but just could not gain any ground on the leader. Late in the race, it was clear Maters N Taters would be victorious over the sloppy surface, scoring the win by two lengths in a time of 1:09.78. Double Tuff finished second over Stop Hammertime and Joe Ramos for third.

Maters N Taters paid $44.20 and gave trainer Anthony Cunningham and owner Salvador Villalobos their first career Thoroughbred stakes win. The pair are prevalent in Quarter Horse racing in Indiana with Villalobos serving as Cunningham's assistant trainer in the powerhouse barn of Indiana Quarter Horses.

“We bought this horse and one other Thoroughbred and a Quarter Horse off of Ron Brown last year when he said he was retiring,” explained Cunningham. “Sal (Villalobos) deserves all the credit with this horse. He has done all the work with him.”

Villalobos has worked for Cunningham for the past 10 years. Each winter, he returns to Mexico to spend time with family before rejoining Cunningham at Indiana Grand for the racing season. Cunningham, who hails from Michigan and has a farm in the Wolverine State, travels back and forth between the two destinations and relies heavily on Villalobos for his expertise in the shed row at Indiana Grand.

“This particular horse stays here,” added Cunningham. “He has a little attitude and can be tough to be around at times. Sal has done a great job with him.”

The game plan as a longshot in the race worked out as planned. With early speed, Perez and Cunningham decided early on that would be their strategy.

“The plan was to make the lead and they let me take the lead easy today,” said Perez. “He's got tactical speed and we wanted to use that to his advantage.”

It was also tactical to utilize Perez aboard Maters N Taters. Perez, a multiple Graded Stakes winning jockey with more than 2,500 career wins, knows the horse well and knows how to ride him.

“Eddie (Perez) has ridden this horse for a long time for Ron (Brown),” explained Cunningham. “That's why we put him up.”

Maters N Taters is nearing $200,000 in career earnings. It was his fourth career win and his second stakes victory, scoring a win in the $100,000 Crown Ambassador Stakes as a two-year-old for Brown. Perez has been aboard for all four of his career wins in 18 outings.

Cunningham is currently ranked second in the leading Quarter Horse trainer standings yet again in 2021. Although he does have a few Thoroughbreds in his barn and has dabbled in Thoroughbreds in recent years, his main focus is on Quarter Horses.

“It's a big deal to me to win a Thoroughbred stakes race because it is hard to do,” added Cunningham. “Thoroughbreds are a whole different ball game. I'm just fortunate I have a good horse and a great team behind me. Everyone worked hard to get this horse here today.”

One person that has had the faith in Maters N Taters for a long time is breeder Dr. Crystal Chapple and her husband, Michael Phelps. They were also trackside for the race and in the winner's circle to greet the horse they raised at their farm.

“Maters N Taters is the first horse that Michael (Phelps) was ever down on as the breeder,” added Chapple. “It's really been something for us to watch him do so well over the years.”

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Shy Money Cashes In Wednesday’s Shelby County Stakes

Shy Money got nearly all the cash in the 19th running of the $75,000 Shelby County Stakes on Wednesday at Indiana Grand. The win marked the first stakes victory for owner Paul King, who is also the breeder on the grey Unbridled Express 4-year-old filly.

With earlier rain saturating the track and more rain lurking in the vicinity, Shy Money joined eight other females on the track for the Shelby County Stakes, which began the inaugural season of Thoroughbred racing at Indiana Grand. Ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel, Shy Money began her journey from post four and was in the lead down the backstretch, followed closely by race favorite Hungarian Princess and Sammy Bermudez.

In the stretch, Hungarian Princess began to make a move for the front spot and a battle ensued. Shy Money stood her ground and was able to fend off Hungarian Princess, just a 3-year-old, at the finish line for the win by a nose in 1:10.35 over the sloppy surface. Sentimentaljourney and Jermaine Bridgmohan finished third.

The second choice in the race, Shy Money paid $7.40 for the win. It was her third straight win and her fourth in five career starts. Aaron West trains the Indiana sired filly for King, who was trackside to accept his first stakes trophy. King is relatively new to the business, purchasing his first horse in 2017. King and West began with Shy Money late last fall as a three-year-old with two starts in Indiana. They gave her the winter off and brought her back to the racetrack in mid-April.

“She (Shy Money) has a big heart,” said West, who has trained several Indiana champions in recent years, including Marina's Legacy. “We are going to give her a break, now. She is undefeated sprinting, so we will keep her at that distance.”

Shy Money increased her career bankroll to more than $110,000 with the win. It was her first attempt in stakes action, and she is now three for three at the five-furlong distance.

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Piedi Bianchi Named Indiana’s 2020 Horse Of The Year

Each year, members of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) honor the state's top performers with a spring banquet. Due to restrictions associated with COVID-19, the banquet was canceled the past two seasons, but the state is still honoring the top performers of 2020 during the 2021 season at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.

Top performers in each division are highlighted daily on the simulcast production, and to honor two of the state's top awards, a special presentation was made Tuesday, June 8 for the ITOBA/Indiana Breed Development Breeder of the Year and the 2020 Champion Indiana Horse of the Year. Top breeding honors were awarded to Deann Baer and Greg Baer, DVM, breeders on the Champion Horse of 2020 Piedi Bianchi.

The Baers have bred many winners in recent years. Hailing from Columbus, Ind., the small breeding operation sends many yearlings to the sales in Kentucky where Piedi Bianchi was originally transported as a weanling. Her current connections of Jay Oringer, Jack Bick, Al Bianchi Racing LLC, Adam Bayroff and Mike Maturo purchased the filly at the Ocala Breeders Sale during her 2-year-old season and have reaped rewards since that time.

Piedi Bianchi won two of three starts at Indiana Grand in 2020. Overall, she has won six races in 24 starts with earnings of more than $650,000. The multiple graded stakes placed daughter of Overanalyze has had success outside of the borders of Indiana, winning at Aqueduct and Del Mar with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile at two at Del Mar. She most recently finished second in the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park.

“We hope to get her back to where we started in November at Del Mar (Breeders Cup),” said Jay Oringer, who was present for the awards ceremony. “Her career is winding down, but we hope she has a few more good races in her. Once she is done racing, she will be a broodmare and we are thinking Tapit. The baby should come out nice and grey.”

Oringer and his partners work hard to ensure every horse they have ever owned gets a good home after racing. A portion of the earnings from Piedi Bianchi goes to racehorse aftercare.

“It's important to us to give to aftercare,” added Oringer. “We make sure all of our horses are taken care of after they are done, even if we have to claim them back.”

Oringer was in town to watch another horse under his ownership in the Shelby County Stakes on the Wednesday, June 9 card at Indiana Grand. Expect Indy, trained by Cipriano Contreras, is set to start from post three with Santo Sanjur aboard. She is the favorite in the field of nine and won the $75,000 stakes race in 2019.

The 19th running of the Shelby County is one of two stakes on the Wednesday card, joined by the 18th running of the $75,000 William Henry Harrison Stakes. The stakes are set as races six and eight, respectively, on the card.

Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing, and Leigh Ann Hopper and Terry Phillips of ITOBA, were on hand for the trophy presentations. Rachel McLaughlin, on-air racing commentator, conducted the special ceremony. Trainer Tim Glyshaw accepted the award on behalf of the Baers.

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.

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Indiana Grand Set All-Quarter Horse Card Handle Record June 5

Indiana Grand Racing & Casino recorded its highest all-sources handle during the first of six All-Quarter Horse racing programs Saturday, June 5. A total of $1,000,393 was wagered to establish a new track record. The day featured 13 races, including two stakes races and trials for the Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby, with the top 10 heading to the $75,000 final set for Monday, June 28.

The seventh running of the $95,900 Harley Greene Derby was a good preview of 3-year-olds in the state with Beach Blast turning in a very impressive performance in the 350-yard dash. The sorrel son of Escondido Beach broke on top and never looked back for jockey Sammy Mendez, cruising under the wire for a one and three-quarter length advantage in a time of :17.650. WH Imastreakinbeach and Jose Ruiz finished second over Jess Bringin It On and Cesar Esqueda for third.

Owned by Keith Bode and Brock Hutchinson, Beach Blast is now four for eight lifetime and increased his career bankroll over the $200,000 mark. It was one of six wins on the card for Trainer Randy Smith, Indiana Grand's leading trainer.

“That horse can run,” said Smith of Beach Blast. “He could be one of the fastest ones I've ever had. We'll probably get him ready for the Blue River (Derby) next.”

The second Quarter Horse stakes of the day was a first for both horse and jockey. Erik Esqueda guided Jess a Flyin Beach to his first stakes win in the $83,200 Born Runner Classic. Starting from post two, the duo had good positioning early and was able to take over midway through the 400-yard dash to get a nose under the wire first for the win. Beach Mercedes and Sammy Mendez finished second followed by Beach Cartel and German Rodriguez for third.

Owned and trained by Tony Cunningham, Jess a Flyin Beach earned his fourth career win and increased his career bankroll to more than $119,000. The four-year-old son of Escondido Beach was making his second start of 2021.

“He's been second or third in stakes action but never quite got his head in front at the wire,” said Cunningham. “He has a lot of class. He's had some issues over the past couple of years but was able to put it all together today. I'm happy for Erik (Esqueda) to get his first stakes win. We have a great team and can't do it without all of them.”

Earlier on the card three trials were held to determine the final field for the Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby. The quickest qualifier of the day was Cartel Creek from the Randy Smith barn. Owned by Debbie Smith, the three-year-old son of The Louisiana Cartel scored the win in :20.215 for jockey Jose Beltran after grabbing an early lead.

The top 10 qualifiers for the Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby, with jockey and times, includes: Cartel Creek (Jose Beltran, :20.215); WRs Moonin the Wagon (Sammy Mendez, :20.261); Jess Over Yonder (Natasha Fritz, :20.358); Jess Good Reason SA (Uriel Cervantes, :20.450); Paint Me Brown (Uriel Cervantes, :20.473); CC Moonflash (L.D. Martinez, :20.532); Lone Cartel (L.D. Martinez, :20.603); Apollitical Tools (Giovani Vazquez Gomez, :20.623); Shez Bodacious (Cristian Reyes, :20.638); and AA Storm the Mozoomo (Erik Esqueda, :20.655). Tony Cunningham will saddle three in the final (CC Moonflash, Lone Cartel, AA Storm the Mozoomo) while Randy Smith (Cartel Creek, WRs Moonin Thewagon), Jose Aguirre (Jess Good Reason SA, Paint Me Brown) and Tim Eggleston (Jess Over Yonder, Shez Bodacious) will all saddle two in the final.

Another first was also recorded on the day as Trainer Shawna Martin not only scored her first career training victory but scored a double on the card. Martin kicked off the day with a win from Delightful Dahlonega, ridden by Cristian Esqueda, with a win in the first race followed by a win by Easy Torero, also ridden by Cristian Esqueda, in the afternoon's sixth race. Easy Torero was a surprise winner to bettors, paying $85.80 for the win.

The next all Quarter Horse Day at Indiana Grand is set for Saturday, July 3 followed by racing Saturday, July 24, Saturday, Aug. 14, Saturday, Sept. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 9. The track will also host two regional qualifiers for the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships this fall. The John Deere Juvenile Challenge and the Q-Racing Videos Distaff Challenge trials are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4 with the finals set for Monday, Sept. 20. All Saturday Quarter Horse racing begins at 10 a.m.

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