Charlene's Dream ($74.80) surprises in Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap

The Horseshoe Indianapolis turf course turned into a no-passing zone Saturday, with front-runners winning two $150,000 handicaps for 3-year-olds.

After Charlene’s Dream upset the Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap for fillies, wiring the field at odds of 36-1, Lucky Jeremy eased to the lead in the Caesars Stakes, turned back a stern homestretch challenge from Beyond Stoked, then survived an inquiry and objection to come out on top.

While Jaime Torres on Lucky Jeremy stole a win, dictating a slow pace, Charlene’s Dream ($74.80) had to work harder. While far from an obvious choice, the filly went off a dramatic overlay for trainer Ed Moger Jr., who trains Charlene’s Dream for Domeyko Taylor.

Charlene’s Dream went 3-1-0 from four starts at age 2, going wire to wire in a turf-route stakes at Golden Gate before capping her campaign with a sprint stakes win there over the Tapeta Footings main track. Her lone start this year came in the Leslie’s Lady, a seven-furlong dirt race, in which Charlene’s Dream turned in a respectable showing.

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Jockey Evan Roman rode Charlene’s Dream during her 2-year-old season and, having moved his tack to Indiana this spring, was aboard again Saturday. Stylish Sue, drawn one stall outside Charlene’s Dream, made a bid for the lead into the first turn, but Roman kept his filly in front, though the pace over a course rated “good” popped up a solid 47.80 for the half-mile. Undaunted, Charlene’s Dream carried a clear lead into the homestretch, and though she slowed to a 25.19 final-quarter mile, she held clear favored Buttercream Babe by one length, with Neom Beach third, the winning time 1:37.18 for the mile.

Bred in Texas, Charlene’s Dream is by Qurbaan and out of the War Front mare Clara Kelly. She’s now a four-time winner from six starts following her Saturday upset.

Lucky Jeremy made his second start for trainer Mike Maker after making five for William Morey and raced for the first time on turf. Torres easily made the front, Lucky Jeremy sauntering through his first half-mile in 48.97 while racing in the clear, but cornering awkwardly into the homestretch, losing momentum and, eventually, the lead.

Beyond Stoked ranged up and poked his head in front at the eighth pole before Lucky Jeremy gathered himself, fought back, and regained the lead with a half-furlong to run. Lucky Jeremy edged away from Beyond Stoked and had nearly a half-length on him when he drifted into Beyond Stoke’s path just a few yards before the wire. Walter Rodriguez on Beyond Stoked checked, then lodged an objection accompanying a stewards’ inquiry, but the stewards did not take long to rule the incident had occurred too close to the finish to deprive the runner-up of his chance at a higher placing and let the result stand.

Beyond Stoked finished one length ahead of third-place Aspenite, favored at 19-10 but unable to quicken into the slow tempo. Lucky Jeremy ran his mile in 1:37.79 and paid $8.40.

Winner of the Riley Allison Derby this past winter at Sunland Park, Lucky Jeremy came into the Caesars after a fading sixth in the Texas Derby, his first start for Maker. Lucky Jeremy had raced competitively over a synthetic surface and took to the grass for owner Resolute Racing, which purchased the colt after an eighth-place finish in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April. Lucky Jeremy was produced by the War Chant mare Powder N Blush and is by Lookin at Lucky. He was game, not lucky, Saturday in Indiana.

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