Indy Groove coming around

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It has been nearly 10 years since Tom Proctor experienced what was easily the greatest thrill of his training career, when he sent out One Dreamer to a 47-1 upset in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs.

Looking back, Proctor said those years have not been particularly good to him, but not particularly bad, either.

"My life's been good, although I haven't had a top horse since One Dreamer left," said Proctor, 48. "I've won some minor stakes, but nothing to really brag about. What you accomplish and what that's all about, I guess that just depends on people's perceptions."

Sunday, Proctor will saddle one of the better horses in a stable he has split between Churchill and Arlington Park. Indy Groove, beaten a nose in her last start, will try to go through her second allowance condition when she starts from the outside post in a field of seven fillies and mares in the $52,900 feature, which goes as the 10th of 11 Sunday races.

A 4-year-old filly, is owned by the Glen Hill Farm of Leonard Lavin, the same owner who raced One Dreamer. Lavin paid $1 million for Indy Groove, by A.P. Indy, at the 2001 Keeneland September yearling sales. Although she is a long way from recouping her purchase price on the racetrack, Indy Groove surely has considerable residual value as a broodmare prospect, having placed twice in graded stakes at 2.

"Obviously she's not a top horse like One Dreamer, but hopefully she can get through this condition before too long," said Proctor. "I'd like to see her keep progressing, but let's get through this first before we go any farther."

Off her sharp effort in that tough recent loss, Indy Groove figures as a solid favorite under Mark Guidry in the Sunday feature, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles. In her prior start, on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks undercard, Indy Groove drove to a neck victory to clear her first allowance condition. In all, Indy Groove has won twice from seven starts.

Among the logical challengers to Indy Groove on Sunday are Carolina Rose, with Robby Albarado riding for Neil Howard, and Family Business, who has Pat Day riding for Dallas Stewart.

Other highlights of the Sunday card include one other allowance (race 9) and a $50,000 claiming mile (race 6). First post is 1:15 p.m.

After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for two days before action resumes Wednesday.