Indiana Oaks

Able to have things all her own way up front, Maximum Offer (Maxfield) set an easy tempo early and had something left late to win the GIII Indiana Oaks in gate-to-wire fashion Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. After breaking her maiden in her 3-year-old debut, trainer Ken McPeek pointed her on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. After pressing the lead early, she wound up fourth just a length back in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park but a non-impact fifth in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks March 21 ended her...

Wathnan Racing's Leading Change (Gun Runner), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' debut winner at Churchill Downs June 7, heads straight to the big leagues for Brad Cox in Saturday's GIII Indiana Derby. The $800,000 Keeneland September graduate and half-brother to GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) romped by 6 1/2 lengths in his unveiling going seven furlongs, good for a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. He makes his two-turn debut with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons at Horseshoe Indianapolis. "Before he ran, he's one that had me dreaming...

Prom Queen (Quality Road) will be carrying a new pair of silks in Saturday's GIII Indiana Oaks at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Previously campaigned by breeders Gary and Mary West, the GII Gulfstream Parks Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was purchased privately Josh Isner's Delta Squad Racing. She has remained with trainer Brad Cox. Isner's fledgling operation also co-owns the Cox-trained Margie's Intention (Honor A. P.), a last-out winner of Laurel Park's Allaire DuPont Distaff S. over Preakness weekend. "I've had such a good experience with Margie's Intention...

The 123-day season at Horseshoe Indianapolis, which begins Apr. 7, will feature 47 stakes races worth $4.95 million. Highlighting the season is the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby and $200,000 GIII Indiana Oaks. The pair of graded races will be run on a July 11 card that features total purses over $1.1 million. "We have moved our Indiana Derby back one week this year, since its traditional place landed on July 4 this year," said Horseshoe Indianapolis vice president and general manager of racing Eric Halstrom. "Our Indiana Derby has become...

Horseshoe Indianapolis concluded its 124-day season Nov. 14 with a record total domestic handle of $282 million. The new mark eclipses the previous record of $279 million set in 2023. "Once again, we are very proud of our racing program this season and it is the result of a strong team effort between our staff, horsemen, and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission," said Horseshoe Indianapolis Vice President and General Manager of Racing Eric Halstrom. "Everyone contributed to our success this season, which is clearly shown in our wagering results. We...

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) approved 123 days of live racing for the 2025 season at Horseshoe Indianapolis during its regular meeting at the track Thursday, Oct. 24. Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing will mirror the 2024 schedule. There will be six dates dedicated to Quarter Horses exclusively. Racing will begin Tuesday, Apr. 15 and run through Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, with first post set for 2:10 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday. The track's marquee events--the GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Indiana Oaks--are scheduled for Saturday, July 5, with...

Chatalas (Gun Runner), all-the-way winner of last year's GII Chandelier Stakes prior to a down-the-field finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies while under the care of Mark Glatt, was sent to trainer Grant Forster this term with an eye on the age-restricted dirt stakes east of the Mississippi. The plan was off to an auspicious beginning Saturday when the bay, having her first start of 2024, fought back tenaciously at the fence to take Saturday's GIII Indiana Oaks. Sent straight into the lead from the inside post by...

Winner of three of his four starts on the grass last season, including two at the Grade III level, Amerman Racing's Endlessly (Oscar Performance) returns to the grass for the first time as a 3-year-old as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $750,000 GI Belmont Derby. Typically contested over 10 furlongs at Belmont Park, this year's renewal takes place over a mile and three-sixteenths at Aqueduct. Victorious in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf and GIII Zuma Beach Stakes, Endlessly was a wide-trip eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile...

A record $5.03 million has been allocated to the 2024 stakes schedule at Horseshoe Indianapolis, a program highlighted by the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby and the $200,000 GIII Indiana Oaks, each to be contested Saturday, July 6, 2024. Some 42 stakes will be offered over the course of the season, which gets off to a unique beginning on Monday, Apr. 8 to coincide with Total Solar Eclipse Day. The afternoon's features include the appropriately named Dark Side of the Moon and Total Eclipse of the Heart handicaps for Indiana-bred and...

A pair of Grade I events for 3-year-olds on grass will co-anchor a loaded 12-race program at Belmont Park Saturday. European invader The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), a narrow winner of the G2 Dante S. May 18 and fifth-place finisher after stumbling at the start in the G1 English Derby June 3, will make the trip across the pond for trainer Andrew Balding for the GI Belmont Derby Invitational. The 7-2 morning-line favorite, drawn widest of all in post 11, will square off against 10 rivals, including GII Pennine Ridge...

Horseshoe Indianapolis is proposing a 2023 mixed-meet racing schedule of 123 dates that pares four dates from the Thoroughbred portion of the calendar, down to 117 from the 121 Thoroughbred dates that had been granted this year. Pending approval at this Thursday's Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) meeting, the 2023 mixed meet will run Apr. 18-Nov. 17. That's roughly the same template that Horseshoe Indianapolis used this past season, although next year's meet is scheduled to end on the Friday before Thanksgiving instead of running into the holiday week and...

The book on training the modern racehorse goes something this: Give them at least six weeks off between races, start them no more than five times a year and never take a chance. It's a book that, apparently, Ken McPeek has never read. Among top-tier trainers, there is no one like him. He'll run fillies against the boys, run back in a week and he's not afraid to throw a 50-1 bomb into a race or, in the case of 2022 GI Belmont S. winner Sarava (Wild Again), a 70-1...