Itzforever overcomes wide post to take Lady Fog Horn

Itzforever overcame a challenging post position and 11 Indiana-bred 3-year-old fillies to win the $200,000 Lady Fog Horn Handicap on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Marcelino Pedroza rode the winner for owner David Walters and trainer Tony Granitz. Granitz trained Lady Fog Horn during her exceedingly successful career as an Indiana-bred race-mare. Granitz used to be a fixture training in Chicago, as did Itzforever’s breeder, Tom Dorris.

Itzforever rallied from ninth, closing into a quick half-mile that went in 47.04 seconds. She went wide into the homestretch while Evil Intentions got a clean run up the rail, but Itzforever ($11.80) pulled away through the final half-furlong to post a 2 1/2-length win, with Forever Pink two lengths farther back in third. By Forever d’Oro out of Itzacoldcase, by Gold Case, Itzforever ran one mile 70 yards over a sloppy, sealed track in 1:44.10 as the 124-pound co-highweight.

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That was a faster time than the 1:44.33 Doubledogjustice put up one race later capturing the $250,000 Unreachable Star, an Indiana-sired handicap for 3-year-olds, by one length over Corona Grande. Doubledogjustice got nearly the same trip as the one that propelled Itzforever to victory, coming from ninth with an outside swoop under Fernando de la Cruz. Corona Grande followed Doubledogjustice’s move while racing even wider but fell short despite closing the gap in the late stages. It was five lengths back to Daddys Dream in third. Doubledogjustice ($9.40) carried 122 pounds as did the three horses who finished closest to him.

Doubledogjustice earned nearly $140,000 for owner-trainer Raymond Paquette III, who purchased the gelding as a yearling at an Indiana auction for just $6,000. Bred by Justice Farm and Greg Justice, Doubledogjustice is by Lantana Mob out of Downtown Justice, by Article of Faith.

Before the 3-year-old handicaps came a pair of $100,000 Indiana-sired stakes for 2-year-olds, with Cringe dominating the Crown Ambassador and The Kid Pataky just holding on in the Indiana Stallion for fillies.

Cringe ($9.80) was coming off a second start four-length maiden win and was much the best in the Crown Ambassador. Under Alberto Burgos, Cringe stalked from fifth, moved up to take a narrow lead at the stretch call, widening to the wire to win by two lengths over late-running Kingsbury Road. Datts Life came from last of 11 to finish third as the winner clocked 1:12.08 for six furlongs. Scott Mullins, another former Chicago horsemen, trains Cringe for Shim Farms. Bred by Elliott Ventures, Cringe is by Taprize out of Joyella, by Sharp Humor.

The Kid Pataky went off the odds-on favorite in the Indiana Stallion but came home only a head on top, winning a three-horse photo over second place Rafaella, who edged Martz Rosey. The Kid Pataky and jockey Samuel Bermudez made a clear early lead and dictated terms around the turn, but the filly shortened strides at the furlong grounds and was saved by the wire. The Kid Pataky, who paid $3.80, covered her six furlongs in 1:12.68. A homebred owned by Swifty Farms, The Kid Pataky is trained by Anthony Cunningham. She’s by Pataky Kid out of Zappita, by Ghostzapper.

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