Indiana Downs: Two six-figure stakes on Saturday card

Sister Ginger looks for her third consecutive win in the first running of the $125,000 Indiana Grand at Indiana Downs on Saturday. The Grand was previously named the Indiana Downs Distaff.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Sister Ginger has won three of her last four races. A 3-year-old daughter of Student Council owned by Millenium Farms, Sister Ginger won the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park in February. After a dismal performance in the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn, Asmussen took Sister Ginger to Lone Star Park, where she won an allowance event going a mile on the main track and then won an optional-claiming race going a mile on the turf course. The Indiana Grand will be run at a mile on turf.

There appears to be plenty of early speed in the seven-horse field, and Sister Ginger’s from-off-the-pace style should suit her well. Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride.

Elusive Fate also will be looking for her third consecutive victory. A daughter of Elusive Quality, Elusive Fate led throughout to win a maiden race at a mile over the Indiana Downs turf May 15. In her most recent outing at Churchill Downs, she was kept just off the early pace and then went on to win an allowance race by nearly five lengths going a mile on the main track. Trained by Rusty Arnold, Elusive Fate will be ridden by Marcelino Pedroza.

Finding More posted the highest lifetime Beyer Speed Figure of any horse in the field by more than 10 points in her most recent outing June 20 at Churchill Downs. Trained by Kellyn Gorder, Finding More won an allowance race going seven furlongs while earning a Beyer of 94. Finding More has yet to try turf but has won four of eight lifetime starts. Malcom Franklin, the leading jockey at Indiana Downs, will ride Finding More for the first time. Others in the field include Queen Negwar, In Bloom, and the entry of Miss Scout and Colony Crossing.

Golden Bear: Big Town on a streak

Big Town will be looking for his third consecutive win in the $100,000 Golden Bear for older horses going 1 1/16 miles. A 5-year-old gelded son of Speightstown, Big Town won a $50,000 claiming race May 24 at Churchill Downs. In his most recent start, he was ridden out to a 5 1/2-length victory in an optional-claiming race at Churchill, earning a Beyer of 101, the highest last-race Beyer of anyone in the field by at least five points. Both of those efforts came at 1 1/16 miles. Big Town is trained by Tim Glyshaw and will be ridden by Orlando Mojica.

Agent Di Nozzo has won three of four this season for trainer Steve Margolis and will be looking for his second straight score. A 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper, he won his last out at Churchill Downs in an optional-claiming race. Prior to that, Agent Di Nozzo won an optional-claiming event and the Borgata Stakes at Delta Downs before finishing second in an optional claimer at Churchill on April 30. Marlon St. Julien will ride.

The remainder of the field is Luzianna Man, Saber Cat, Night Party, Mr. Bowling, and Prospective.