Indian Ink tops Classen Memorial

Indian Ink, Ohio's champion handicap mare of 2009, heads a field of 11 Ohio-bred fillies and mares in the six-furlong, $50,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial at Thistledown.

Indian Ink, a 5-year-old daughter of Gold Market, won 5 of her 8 starts last year, including an upset victory over Ohio champion mare Pay the Man in the Scarlet and Grey Handicap at Beulah Park on Oct. 31. She has only raced once this year. Heavily backed in an allowance race at River Downs on May l, she surrendered a four-length lead and finished second.

"She needed the race." trainer Mike Rone said.

The main opposition for Indian Ink should come from Coax Me Heidi who finished second in this race last year. Coax Me Heidi comes into the race off a second-place finish in the six-furlong Alyssala Stakes at Beulah Park on May l. She likes to settle into stride before doing her best running and will be heard from during the latter stages of the race.

Macramae is the dark horse in the race. The 5-year-old Mercer Mill mare has started three times in her career and has won twice. Her latest win came a Beulah Park on April 26, when she led every step of the way completing six furlongs in l:10.27 over a sloppy track.