Gulfstream Park: Indiano makes no mistakes in Mr. Prospector

Courtney Heeney

Indiano wins the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector under Luis Saez on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A slow start cost Indiano a chance to win the 2011 Mr. Prospector. He made no such mistake when given a second chance in the same event one year later, rallying from off the pace to a three-quarter-length victory over Off the Jak on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Indiano could not quite overcome his tardy beginning when falling a half-length shy of catching Apriority in last year’s edition of the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector.  But this time he broke right with the field, rated in perfect position behind the early leaders under jockey Luis Saez, swept three wide while rallying into the stretch, gained command inside the eighth pole, and proved clearly best.

Off the Jak contested the pace with Dreaming of Neno, resisted bravely when challenged by 7-5 favorite Action Andy into the stretch but proved no match for the winner. Action Andy raced forwardly throughout but faltered through the final furlong, finishing another three-quarters of a length further back in third.

The slow-starting Bull Dozer and tiring Dreaming of Neno rounded out the complete order of finish. Partyallnightlong scratched earlier in the day.

Indiano, a 4-year-old son of Indian Charlie owned by Stud Aguila, paid $5.40 after completing six furlongs in 1:10.26. His victory in the Mr. Prospector reversed his setback at the hands of Action Andy three weeks earlier in Tampa Bay Downs’ Pelican.

“He should have won this race last year, he broke terrible,” said trainer Marty Wolfson. “I just needed to get that last race into him last time. He’s a better horse than Action Andy. That horse had been training up at Tampa, mine just got up there the night before the race. I wasn’t worried about Action Andy today. I thought my horse would win.”