Foley's shippers always merit respect

When trainer Greg Foley has sent the Indiana-breds in his Churchill Downs barn to race at Hoosier Park this meet, they have mostly come ready to run. From 5 starters at the meet, Foley has 2 wins, 1 second, and 1 third. One of those winners, Our Lucky Sox, figures as a strong player Saturday in the colt and gelding division of the $45,000 Indiana Stallion Stakes, the six-furlong closing day feature at Hoosier Park.

Our Lucky Sox, a full brother to the multiple-stakes-winning Indiana mare Ellens Lucky Star, drew off to a 5 1/4-length win in his debut earlier this month. Wheeling back Our Lucky Sox in 10 days may prove a wise move because this type of stakes, restricted to offspring of Indiana-based stallions, can be inconsistent in quality.

Others likely to garner support include Jacks Are Lucky and Moonshine Still. Jacks Are Lucky was beaten twice as the odds-on favorite earlier in the meet before breaking through in his fourth maiden attempt on Oct. 27, leading gate to wire and winning by more than eight lengths. The presence of other speed elements, however, might hurt his chances.

Moonshine Still won his debut at Hoosier in early September, and then started as part of a favored entry in the Hillsdale Stakes last month. Moonshine Still was well placed in third early, but could not catch the front-running Made Your Moves, who won by more than four lengths with Moonshine Still more than six lengths behind in third.