Coppola, Current Climate post easy wins in off-the-turf stakes

Coppola and Current Climate cruised to easy wins Friday at Horseshoe Indianapolis in a pair of $100,000 stakes races that had to be moved from turf to dirt after heavy, persistent rain at the track.

The surface switch gutted both fields, with just three remaining in the Clarksville for fillies, won by odds-on favorite Current Climate, and Coppola whipping four foes in the William Garrett.

Jockey Manny Esquivel rode with total confidence aboard Coppola, who paid just $2.60, his mount steadily drawing away through the homestretch to post a 6 1/4-length victory. Mister Mmmmm finished second and Adios Gary was third as Coppola clocked five furlongs in 56.46 seconds on a sloppy, sealed racing surface.

Dale Romans trains Coppola for Hammer Time Stable and Sport of Kings Racing, and Coppola, seemingly as capable on dirt as turf, now has won 8 of 22 starts. The horse is a son of Into Mischief and the Distorted Humor mare Blind Copy.

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In the Clarksville, Current Climate rallied from last – that is, third – and was 2 1/2 lengths better than runner-up Blame Day, with early leader Foolish a distant last of the trio. Trained by Eric Foster for Foster Family Racing and William Wargel, Current Climate got her five furlongs in 57.16 and paid $3. Place and show wagering were canceled.

Six-year-old Current Climate, claimed for $25,000 in January 2023, had never placed in a stakes race much less won one before Friday. The mare is by Raison d’Etat out of Mullins Bay, by Speightstown, and she was well spotted, indeed.

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