Longshot Maters N Taters fries pace rivals in William Henry Harrison Stakes
Maters N Taters snuck off to a clear lead and proved uncatchable at 21-1 in the $77,400 William Henry Harrison Stakes on a wet Wednesday at Indiana Grand.
Maters N Taters ($44.20), a need-the-lead type, ran the race of his life shaking free from a couple potential pace rivals under Eddie Perez. He came into the homestretch of this stakes race restricted to Indiana-sired runners with a 2 1/2-length lead and won by two lengths over 47-1 shot Oscar P Q, who was disqualified and placed fourth after Joseph Ramos on Stop Hammertime claimed foul, alleging interference at the eighth pole. That lifted Double Tuff, the 4-5 favorite who never challenged the winner, into the pace spot.
Trained by Anthony Cunningham for Salvador Villalobos, Maters N Taters was timed in 1:09.78 for six furlongs on a sloppy, sealed racing surface. The 4-year-old gelding is by Santiva out of Spousal Privilege, by Successful Appeal.
The $77,250 Shelby County Stakes for Indiana-sired fillies and mares ran truer to form, as 5-2 second choice Shy Money won by a nose over 9-5 favorite Hungarian Princess. Taking the lead from the start, Shy Money and jockey Manny Esquivel drifted out and brushed the runner up several times in the final furlong but stewards took no action. Hungarian Princess, a 3-year-old tackling elders, ran well in defeat and finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Sentimentaljourney.
Shy Money ($7.40), timed in 1:10.35 for six furlongs, is trained by Aaron West for Paul King, her breeder. Four-year-old Shy Money is by Unbridled Express out of Awesome Story, by Awesome Again.