A G Indy completes rise from $35,000 claim to Grade 3 stakes winner in Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes
DEL MAR, Calif. – Less has been more for A G Indy.
Trainer Doug O’Neill and owner R3 Racing plunked down a $35,000 claim on A G Indy this past Jan. 3, and immediately cut her back from two-turn turf races to turf sprints.
Back from a February to August layoff, A G Indy won a pair of Del Mar turf-sprint allowance races over the summer and on Friday added a Grade 3 to her resume with a smart score in the $200,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes.
Cutting back from a narrow loss going six furlongs last out at Santa Anita to five furlongs Friday, A G Indy got a perfect trip from Umberto Rispoli, who broke her out of post 2 and snugged her right behind pacesetting Angelcents. There A G Indy sat, saving ground around the turn through an opening quarter mile in 22.38. Angelcents threw in the towel after cornering for home and Rispoli steered right, finding room between the fading leader and lagging Lagertha. A G Indy hit the front and repelled a challenge from Time Limit to win by a neck.
“I got just where I wanted to be,” said Rispoli. “The other filly came right up to her, but she was game.”
Time Limit finished a half-length clear of third place Hear My Pratt, who had a tough trip. Superstition, the 9-5 favorite, played no prominent part and checked in eighth. A G Indy paid $15.40 and was timed in 56.71 for the five furlongs over a firm course.
“Her speed and her class,” O’Neill said, asked what prompted the claim of A G Indy. “She was in great shape when we got her, and to win a graded race like this is just incredible.”
A G Indy, a 4-year-old, is by Take Charge Indy and is the first foal to race produced by the Badge of Silver mare Hong Kong Silver.