Closing day highlighted by four statebred stakes

Indiana Grand celebrates closing day of the 2014 season with four stakes for Indiana-bred horses Saturday. The Indiana Futurity and Miss Indiana are $85,000 races for 2-year-old horses going a mile and 70 yards. The Frances Slocum and Too Much Coffee are $150,000 races for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles. All four races drew full fields, and three of them have also-eligible horses.

TOO MUCH COFFEE (RACE 9)

KEY CONTENDERS

Thank You Kisses (Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-59)

◗ He won the prep for this race in his last out Oct. 14 going a mile and 70 yards by two lengths as the 8-5 favorite. Prior to that, he finished second in the Brickyard Stakes going six furlongs.

◗ Trained by Mike Nance, the 4-year-old has won 4 of 8 starts at the distance.

◗ He has won 2 of 6 starts this year and missed hitting the board in only one start.

◗ He loves the track, having won 4 of 14 starts at Indiana Grand while finishing second or third seven times.

Mister Pollard (Last 3 Beyers: 84-73-77)

◗ He won the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore in his last out Oct. 4 against 3-year-old foes, earning a last-race-high Beyer Speed Figure of 84 going 1 1/16 miles. He has won 2 of 2 starts at the distance and 5 of 8 starts locally.

◗ He will be facing older horses for the third time. He finished sixth in the Brickyard and second in a statebred starter-allowance event.

Northern Candyride (Last 3 Beyers: 79-68-78)

◗ He finished second in the prep but is winless this year. His only win last year came in this race.

Clyde Park (Last 3 Beyers: 88-73-62)

◗ He won the Gus Grissom in his last out and paid $17 to win.

◗ He has won 3 of 7 starts at this distance.

FRANCES SLOCUM (RACE 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Cavalleria (Last 3 Beyers: 82-61-65)

◗ She won the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore for fillies in her last out Oct. 4.

◗ She has won twice against older horses, including her maiden win by 10 1/4 lengths June 18.

Annafromindiana (Last 3 Beyers: 76-77-72)

◗ She will be looking for her third consecutive win off a pair of starter-allowance victories at Churchill and Keeneland. Those were both at 6 1/2 furlongs, but she is 3 for 7 at this distance lifetime.

Mary n’ Eileen (Last 3 Beyers: 79-50-78)

◗ She finished third in the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore for fillies in her last out, beaten only two lengths.

◗ She has won 3 of 4 starts at the distance, two of them at Monmouth Park.

Yeardley (Last 3 Beyers: 78-73-43)

◗ She won this race last year but finished fourth, beaten three lengths, in her last out, the prep for this race.

INDIANA FUTURITY (RACE 7)

KEY CONTENDERS

Supreme Justice (Last 3 Beyers: 63-64-63)

◗ He has won all three of his starts, including the Crown Ambassador last out.

Daddy Justice (Last 3 Beyers: 65-53-53)

◗ He has won 2 of 4 starts and finished second in his other two starts. He won the Hillsdale Stakes on Oct. 1 last time out.

Academy Bay (Last Beyer: 58)

◗ He won his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths locally going six furlongs. He is trained by Steve Asmussen and has a Tomlinson Rating of 372 at the distance, suggesting the stretch-out should be no problem.

MISS INDIANA (RACE 6)

KEY CONTENDERS

Heart’s Song (Last 3 Beyers: 69-70-53)

◗ She won last out in the City of Anderson after finishing second in the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies. She has two wins and two seconds in four starts.

Spooled (Last 3 Beyers: 62-50-10)

◗ She won last out in the fillies’ division of the Indiana Stallion Stakes by 11 1/2 lengths. She has won 2 of 4 starts lifetime.

Mabeeitstime (Last 3 Beyers: 50-49-10)

◗ She has yet to face statebred company.

◗ She won her maiden at Canterbury and finished fourth in a six-furlong optional-claiming race at Hawthorne in her last start. She ran evenly in that latter race, suggesting she should like the stretch-out.