Demolisher stays unbeaten in injury-marred Bucchero Handicap

Demolisher ran his career mark to four wins from four starts winning an injury-marred renewal of the Bucchero Handicap on Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

A homebred 3-year-old trained for Kenneth Ayres by Cipriano Contreras, Demolisher made his career debut only this past June, easily beating Indiana-bred maidens and coming back with a similarly facile allowance victory. Facing 3-year-olds, he captured the $200,000 Governor’s Handicap on July 31 and on Wednesday beat older rivals while making his turf debut in the $100,000 Bucchero Handicap.

Seven-year-old Strong Tide, who was bidding to become the richest Indiana-bred ever, was contending for the lead past the eighth pole when he fractured his right-front sesamoid and was quickly pulled up by jockey Edgar Morales. Trainer Mike Lauer, who updated the gelding's condition via text message, said Strong Tide "should survive."

Breaking from post 9 under Manny Esquivel, Demolisher raced wide most of the trip while stalking the pace, took the lead in upper stretch, and hit the finish 1 1/2 lengths better than second-place Jeopardy Theory, a 36-1 shot. Zolo finished another three-quarters of a length back in third. Demolisher, by Dominus out of Maggie Sue, by Magna Graduate, was timed in 1:40.76 for 1 1/16 miles on firm turf and paid $14.40 as the distant second choice. Despite facing his elders, Demolisher carried 124 pounds, second-highest weight in the race behind Zolo’s 125 pounds.

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One race before the Bucchero, heavily favored Sand and Sea proved much the best in the $100,000 Peony Handicap, another turf route for Indiana-breds, this one restricted to older fillies and mares.

Sand and Sea sat in the pocket for nearly the first seven furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile Peony, crying out for room and eager to get on with her task. Jockey Axel Concepcion found a seam just after turning for home when pace-pressing Heavenly Rich quickly dropped back, allowing Sand and Sea to split her and pacesetting Bluelightspecial. Sand and Sea quickly opened daylight and cruised home a 1 3/4-length winner over Louder Than Words, who had 3 1/2 lengths on third-place Bluelightspecial.

Sand and Sea paid just $3.20, was timed in 1:40.96, and was one of four horses carrying top weight of 127 pounds. The 6-year-old mare, based in Kentucky with trainer Riley Mott, was facing Indiana-breds on turf for the first time and dominated them. Sand and Sea, owned by James Karp, is by Liam’s Map out of Hard Mystery, by Hard Spun, and was bred by Dennis Farkas.

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