Favorites Chipofftheoldblock, Ever Wonder rule in Indiana Grand stakes

Heavy favorites Chipofftheoldblock and Ever Wonder notched popular victories in a pair of Indiana-bred sprint stakes on a wet Wednesday at Indiana Grand.

Ever Wonder, a 6-year-old mare, ran a faster six furlongs than Chipofftheoldblock, a 4-year-old gelding, clocking 1:09.25 for six furlongs on a sloppy track in the $75,000 Checkered Flag Stakes compared to the 1:09.51 Chipofftheoldblock needed to complete the $75,000 Brickyard Stakes.

Two of her pace rivals scratched -- Shy Money, in particular, figured to battle for the lead -- leaving Ever Wonder alone in front, and despite whistling through a half mile in 44.46 seconds, it was Ever Wonder who drew steadily clear through the stretch to post an 8 1/2-length victory. Hungarian Princess got second over Serena Beck, those two racing in the two spots behind the leader the entire trip in a carousel-style race. Ever Wonder ($4.20) was ridden by Eddie Perez for trainer Robert Gorham and owner Mast Thoroughbreds. Ever Wonder, winning for the ninth time in 23 starts, is by Jersey Town out of Wildcat Wonder, by Forest Wildcat, and was bred by Dawn Martin.

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Chipofftheblock finished third, fifth, and ninth in his three Indiana stakes starts last year at age 3, but those races came around two turns and Chipofftheoldblock has excelled this year in dirt sprints. He held his own in tough open Oaklawn allowance races earlier this year and now has won three in a row at Indiana Grand, winning the Brickyard by one length over Double Tuff, who ran hard in defeat and surged in the final 50 yards but couldn’t catch the winner. Drawn wide, Chipofftheoldblock, who paid $4 to win, raced a couple lengths off a hot pace under Marcelino Pedroza before taking command in upper stretch. Flowerpecker finished third.

Mike and Penny Lauer bred Chipofftheoldblock, a son of Ready’s Image and the Mizzen Mast mare, Mizzen My Momma. Mike Lauer trains him and Penny Lauer owns Chipofftheoldblock, who won for the sixth time in 16 starts.