Easter Indy much the best in Downthedustyroad

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Easter Indy became a stakes winner in style on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, where she pulled away by 5 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Downthedustyroad. Pink Flash closed from last for second, while it was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Sophias Big Girl.

The Downthedustyroad was the first of two stakes this weekend for Arkansas-breds. The six-furlong feature was for fillies and mares. Sunday brings the $100,000 Nodouble.

Easter Indy ($11.80) tracked the pace in third under jockey Walter De La Cruz, as Pretty Suspect took the field through an opening quarter in 21.79 seconds. The eventual winner advanced on the turn, took the lead into the stretch, and went on to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:11.60.

“We were concerned about Pink Flash,” said Bill Martin, who co-owns and trains Easter Indy. “We kind of laid a little close. We felt she would be running at us.”

Martin owns Easter Indy with John Thiel and Libbie Thiel. Easter Indy was winning for the third time in seven career starts Saturday. She earned $60,000 for the win to lift her career bankroll to $164,465. Easter Indy is a 4-year-old by A.P. Million, and she was bred by John Thiel and Libbie Thiel.

The attendance ontrack was an estimated 16,000.