X-Men Racing IV, Madaket Stables and SF Racing's Clicquot (Quality Road) made it three wins in a row while capturing Saturday's GIII Indiana Oaks.
The even-money favorite raced under a tight hold in third through an opening quarter in :23.18. Locked and loaded back a spot into fourth approaching the quarter pole, she made her move in between horses at the top of lane and blasted off from there to win going away by four lengths over Top (Army Mule).
A debut sixth as the even-money favorite at Gulfstream Mar. 1, she graduated by six lengths going seven furlongs at second asking at Keeneland Apr. 17. She added an optional claimer at Churchill Downs May 31, her first attempt around two turns.
“From the get-go, she's always been very nice,” winning trainer Brendan Walsh said. “Looks like she's still improving, second time going two turns. So, she looks like she's really, really top drawer.”
Walsh continued, “You'd have to start looking at the bigger prizes with her now. She's got some nice seasoning under her. I thought it was important that we came here today and got a nice in-between-race before she goes and tries to take on some of the better fillies in the country.”
Walsh added, “We've been lucky enough we've had some nice fillies the last couple of years. I think this filly is up there with the best of them, so who knows where she'll go from here?”
Pedigree Notes:
Clicquot becomes the 91st stakes/46th graded winner worldwide for Quality Road. Her two-time winning dam Royal Obsession (Tapit), a $1.8-million purchase by Clicquot's breeder Don Alberto at the 2017 KEENOV sale, was second in the GII Gazelle S. She produced a filly by Elite Power this year.
CHEERS TO CLICQUOT ($4.20)!
The Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) filly won impressively under Edgar Morales in the $200,000 @DailyRacingForm Indiana Oaks (G3) at @HSIndyRacing for trainer @brenpwalsh.
Who will win the Indiana Derby? It's coming up next: https://t.co/kjjMxNhE6O pic.twitter.com/H7Xid6piEY
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 5, 2025
Saturday, Horseshoe Indianapolis
DAILY RACING FORM INDIANA OAKS-GIII, $200,000, Horseshoe Indianapolis, 7-5, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:42.42, ft.
1–CLICQUOT, 124, f, 3, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Royal Obsession (GSP, $140,857),
by Tapit
2nd Dam: Rote, by Tiznow
3rd Dam: Song to Remember, by Storm Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($375,000
RNA Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-X-Men Racing IV LLC, Madaket Stables
LLC and SF Racing LLC; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY);
T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Edgar Morales. $118,800. Lifetime
Record: 4-3-0-0, $258,153. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Top, 118, f, 3, Army Mule–Homesteading, by Unbridled's
Song. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Machmer
Hall Thoroughbreds and Elliott Racing LLC; B-Machmer Hall
(KY); T-Michelle L. Elliott. $39,600.
3–Sturgeon Moon, 124, f, 3, Instagrand–La Regia, by Warrior's
Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($60,000
Wlg '22 KEENOV). O-OXO Equine LLC; B-Phalaris, LLC (KY);
T-William Walden. $21,780.
Margins: 4, 2, 4 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 11.60, 4.30.
Also Ran: Deloraine, Goldeneye Magic, Heavenly Sunset. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
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