Memphisinmay, Lady Fog Horn get stakes wins

Memphisinmay, an 11-1 outsider, handed Son of a Nut the first defeat of his career, beating him by a head in the $150,000 Governor’s Stakes on Wednesday at Indiana Grand.

Memphisinmay entered the Governor’s, a two-turn dirt race for Indiana-bred 3-year-olds, with only two wins from 11 starts. He has started in several claiming races and was a one-paced third July 15 in the Snack, his stakes debut. But Memphisinmay had more experience generally and in particular far more route-racing experience than Son of a Nut, whose four wins from four starts to begin his career all had come around one turn.

Son of a Nut’s trainer, co-breeder, and co-owner Jeff Greenhill conceded earlier this week that Son of a Nut was bred more along the lines of a sprinter, and he was only hoping the gelding’s relaxed disposition and body type might help him outrun his pedigree, and to some extent, it surely did.

Son of a Nut set a moderate pace, pressed by Memphisinmay and Devil’s Due West, but while the latter faded from contention on the far turn, Memphisinmay kept the pressure up, engaged Son of a Nut in a stretch-long duel, and came out just on top. Joe Rocco Jr. rode the winner, his ninth from just 17 starts at Indiana Grand, for trainer Kellyn Gorder and owner Brent Gasaway. Memphisinmay ran one mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:42.64 and paid $25.40 to win. Daddy Justice checked in third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Son of a Nut.

The fillies’ stakes race, the $150,000 First Lady, went faster than the Governor’s, with Lady Fog Horn sweeping past the pacesetting Comforter later on the Wednesday card. Comforter crossed and cleared despite breaking from the outside stall in a 10-horse field and laid down a strong pace, getting her half in 47 seconds and change, about 1.5 seconds faster than the half-mile split in the Governor’s.

Comforter ran on gamely, but Lady Fog Horn, putting in a sustained bid on the outside, sailed past the leader at the sixteenth pole and went on to a decisive score. Ridden by Albin Jimenez for trainer Tony Granitz and the Elkstone Group, Lady Fog Horn was timed in 1:42.12 for one mile and 70 yards and paid $11.80, winning for the fifth time in 11 starts. The favored Heart’s Song just nipped Comforter for second.