Its Just Fate, Entrusted score in Indiana-bred stakes

Its Just Fate won the $104,000 Sagamore Sired Stakes at odds of 3-5 on Wednesday at Indiana Grand, but a couple of races later his stablemate, Ideal Sky, lost the $104,600 Swifty Sired Stakes at a similar price.

Both races were six-furlong dirt sprints for 3-year-olds sired by Indiana-based stallions, but the Sagamore Stakes had no sex restriction while the Swifty Sired was only open to fillies.

Its Just Fate broke on top and never looked back posting an easy win in the Sagamore Sired, but Ideal Sky failed to show the speed that had easily won her a recent local allowance race. Trained, as is Its Just Fate, by Wayne Mogge, she checked in third in the Swifty Sired as pace-pressing Entrusted took over from 65-1 pace-setter Polarizing to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Entrusted was ridden to victory by Marcelino Pedroza for trainer Mike Lauer, who brought the filly back from a layoff of nearly nine months to take home a $59,622 check for beating nine rivals in this heavily restricted race. Owned by Penny Lauer and Christine and Vince Cagle, Entrusted was disqualified from a second-start maiden win last summer, officially cleared the maiden ranks third out, and ended her 2-year-old season finishing sixth in a rich stallion stakes for 2-year-olds. By Noble’s Promise out of Mor Trust, by Trust N Luck, Entrusted came back better than ever, running six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.82 and paying $19 to win.

While Ideal Sky appeared to bounce following a strong allowance win in her first start this year, Its Just Fate appeared to move forward in his second start this spring. Four wide early on a contested pace, Its Just Fate and jockey Rodney Prescott took over early on the far turn, opened a clear lead, and were ahead of their nearest pursuer by eight lengths at the stretch call as Prescott geared down his mount to win by four. Mike the Man managed a clear second as Santisteban rallied late for third. Winning time for the six furlongs was 1:10.83 and Its Just Fate paid a mere $3.40 to win.

Mogge, who raced Its Just Fate in blinkers for the first time Wednesday, trains Its Just Fate for Patrick and Donald Donahoe. A gelding by Skylord and the Pioneering mare, She’s a Pioneer, Its Just Fate won for the third time in six starts and landed his first stakes.