Copper Nickel a standout in Ellen's Lucky Star; Snack Stakes more competitive

A pair of $75,0000 turf stakes for Indiana-bred 3-year-olds are carded Wednesday at Indiana Grand – weather permitting.

Indiana Grand, located in Shelbyville, east-southeast of Indianapolis, has been locked in a rain belt the last couple weeks, with turf races steadily rained from grass onto dirt. Turf racing was abandoned again Monday, but the local forecast calls for sunny skies Wednesday.

The Ellen’s Lucky Star, restricted to fillies, appears to have a standout in Copper Nickel, who, if anything, would be helped by a rain-off onto dirt. Copper Nickel, listed at 4-5 on the morning line, never has tried grass but is by Stroll, a turf influence, and has a female family dotted with turf influences. Copper Nickel easily won the Miss Indiana Stakes last fall as a 2-year-old and has dominated Indiana-bred competition this meet in a sprint allowance and a route stakes race, winning the latter race, on July 8, by nearly eight lengths. Mike Lauer trains Copper Nickel, and Rodney Prescott rides her in Wednesday’s one-mile contest.

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The Snack, also carded at one mile but without a sex restriction, is far more competitive, with Two Last Words, Strong Tide, and Mai Tai’s Gem all obvious contenders, and several other entrants for whom a case could be made.

Two Last Words has won half his 10 starts, is 3 for 3 this season, and already is a two-time winner with a stakes score this Indiana Grand meet. He’s never tried grass, however, and is poorly drawn in post 11.

Strong Tide, also trained by Lauer and ridden by Prescott, probably will be bet lower than his 9-2 morning-line price. He held his own in open turf allowance competition at Churchill Downs earlier this year and thumped older Indiana-breds in a recent turf prep for the Snack.

The pick, though, is Mai Tai’s Gem, who won and placed in 2-year-old stakes last season and was second, beaten a head by Two Last Words, in his lone start this season. Mai Tai’s Gem, by Gemologist and out of a Lil E. Tee mare, brings a sneakily strong turf pedigree into his grass debut.