Indian Winter re-routed to Turf Paradise

Indian Winter, who was scratched from the San Vicente a little more than an hour before the race on Sunday because Jerry Hollendorfer, his trainer and co-owner, thought the speed-favoring nature of the Santa Anita main trackwould compromise Indian Winter’s chances, is headed out of town. Indian Winter will run Saturday in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix.

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Hollendorfer’s frustration level with this track already was ratcheted up because of Blind Luck’s runner-up efforts in recent stakes here.
The race-day scratch of Indian Winter was uncharacteristic for Hollendorfer.

“I hate to scratch a horse,” he said. “When I enter, I enter to run. It just seemed like an impossible task.”

Indian Winter worked seven furlongs Monday at Santa Anita (clockers gave him six furlongs in 1:12), after which Hollendorfer entered the colt in the 1 1/16-mile Turf Paradise Derby.

“We’re just trying to get a race in him and teach him something on an unbiased track,” he said.

A closer, Indian Winter won the 6 1/2-furlong San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan 17, his first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 8.

Hollendorfer offered the Turf Paradise Derby mount to Martin Pedroza, who rode Indian Winter in the San Pedro. Pedroza’s agent, Richie Silverstein, said Pedroza had riding commitments that day at Santa Anita. According to Hollendorfer, Indian Winter will be ridden by Juan Rivera, the eighth-ranked rider at Turf Paradise. Through Sunday, Rivera had 37 wins from 249 mounts. Indian Winter, by Indian Charlie, has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $100,860.