Ace of Aces, Wondrshegotthundr win Indiana Grand stakes

Ace of Aces had the lead at the stretch call and lost it before the finish in two six-figure stakes races earlier this Indiana Grand race meet, but there was no catching him Wednesday in the $105,000 Snack Stakes.

Making every call under Jon Court, Ace of Aces surged clear in midstretch and had enough in the tank to hold off longshot Temple Fever and win the Snack by three-quarters of a length in his turf debut.

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Bred and owned by LTB Inc. and Hillerich Racing and trained by Bernie Flint, Ace of Aces had finished third in the Sagamore Sired Stakes and second to Toss of Fate last out in the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore Stakes, both dirt routes. He turned the tables Wednesday on Toss of Fate, who had every chance to catch Ace of Aces in the homestretch but like all these Indiana-bred 3-year-olds proved unable to do so.

Pressed most of the trip by Wherewegoin, Ace of Aces set splits of 23.96, 48.58, and 1:13.14 on the way to a final time of 1:38.34 for one mile over a yielding grass course.

"He pricked his ears and was able to lay there with them comfortably, and I felt the pace was comfortable too,” said Court. “At the end, he had enough of a kick to put a little cushion on the field in the stretch and Ace of Aces brought his ‘A’ game today.”

Ace of Aces ($6.20) ran his record to a fine 8-5-2-1 and is another very useful racehorse produced by the Mutakkdim mare Miss Carmelite. Among her other foals to race are stakes winners Express Model and Express Run as well as Unbridled Class, a seven-time winner from 14 starts. Ace of Aces was sired by Unbridled Express.

***Wondr two for two after Ellen’s Lucky Star score

Wondrshegotthundr had things her own way winning her career debut, a dirt route maiden race, by more than 13 lengths with a perfect pressing trip. Wednesday at Indiana Grand, stepped up in class to the $105,450 Ellen’s Lucky Star Stakes and switched to turf in her second start, Wondrshegotthundr had to make her own luck. Eighth of nine in the early going, Wondrshegotthundr wove her way to the outside for the far turn, raced wide into the stretch, and dug in through the final furlong to win by a half-length.

Moves Like Magic finished second, a head in front of Beentheredonethat. The 2-1 favorite, Wondrshegotthundr paid $6 to win and ran one mile over yielding turf in 1:38.77.

By Graydar out of It’snosmallwander, by Stevie Wonderboy, Wondrshegotthundr was bred and is owned by Bad Boy Racing. The start of her racing career was delayed until June 11 owing to her size.

“She’s a massive filly, almost 17 hands,” said Ricky Giannini, Indiana Grand assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “We had her here last summer and just ended up kicking her out.”

A year later, Wondrshegotthundr is ready to do some racing.