Hoosier Park: Unreachable Star goes for three-peat in Brickyard

Unreachable Star will attempt to win the $84,000 Brickyard Stakes at Hoosier Park for the third straight time when he faces a full field of older Indiana-bred colts and geldings in the six-furlong sprint on Saturday.

The 7-year-old Unreachable Star comes into the race off a neck win in the Aug. 4 prep. That victory was his second of the season and followed the William Henry Harrison at Indiana Downs on May 28.

Unreachable Star, trained by Tim Glyshaw, has also finished second in a pair of turf events at Indiana Downs this season. In the one-mile A.J. Foyt prep June 29, he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths. In the July 13 A.J. Foyt, he was beaten a half-length going 1 1/16 miles against statebreds. Leandro Goncalves retains the mount.

Buster Rose will be facing older horses for the second time in his young career, having finished second, beaten only a neck, in the Aug. 4 prep in his first attempt against his elders. This season, Buster Rose has won the Snack at Indiana Downs going the same six-furlong distance as the Brickyard. The 3-year-old Buster Rose also finished second, beaten a head, in the Governors on July 6 going a mile on the Indiana Downs turf course. Corie Lanerie will ride for the first time.

Facey’s Spirit tops Merrillville lineup

Facey’s Spirit was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite among runners in the $84,000 Merrillville for older statebred fillies and mares.

The 3-year-old Facey’s Spirit won her only local outing impressively Aug. 13. She won that six-furlong, third-level statebred allowance event by 7 3/4 lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 71, the highest last-race figure of any of the entrants. Two races prior to that effort, she won the June 10 Ellen’s Lucky Star at Indiana Downs by 1 1/2 lengths going six furlongs, the same distance as the Merrillville.

Eskimo’s Best will be looking for her fourth straight victory. The 5-year-old Eskimo’s Best won the Florence Henderson prep and then the Florence Henderson over the Indiana Downs turf course June 28 and July 12. In her last out Aug, 3, she came flying late to win the Merrillville prep by a neck. Orlando Mojica retains the mount.