C. J's Storm wins Nobody Listens; Hot Middles takes Checkered Flag
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C. J’s Storm battled for a half-length win over Sleepy in the $100,000 Nobody Listens Handicap on Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It was another length back in third to Molly’s Town.
The six-furlong race was one of two stakes on the card. The $100,000 Checkered Flag Handicap was for fillies and mares at the same distance and was won by Hot Middles ($5). Both races were for 3-year-olds and up bred in Indiana.
C. J's Storm ($18.20) settled off the pace as Sleepy set pressured fractions of 21.56 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 43.42 for the half. C. J’s Storm rallied into the hot pace, taking after the leaders into the stretch. He covered the distance on a fast track in 1:08.91.
Amir Mendoza was aboard for trainer John Haran.
C. J’s Storm was the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s champion sired aged horse of 2025. He came into the Nobody Listens off a runner-up finish in the $100,000 William Henry Harrison on June 3 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Haran races C. J’s Storm with Janet Watt and Charles Watt. C. J’s Storm is a son of Storm’s Eye.
Checkered Flag
Hot Middles turned on the jets late to win her third straight race at the meet in the Checkered Flag. She won by two lengths over Three Coats, while it was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third to The Kid Pataky.
Hot Middles came into the Checkered Flag off a win in a first-level allowance on April 21 and the Corningstone on May 13, both at Horseshoe Indianapolis. In the Checkered Flag, she rallied into fractions of 21.93 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.09 for the half that were set by Bits of Candy. Hot Middles hit the front in the later stages and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:08.71.
Hannah Leahey was aboard for trainer Tianna Richardville.
Hot Middles is a daughter of Klimt who races for Thirstyacres Racing. Imagine the Moon and Fat Chance were scratched from the Checkered Flag.
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