Operation Stevie, 8, takes on Harrison once again

The $75,000 William Henry Harrison Stakes is co-featured on the Wednesday card at Indiana Grand, so Operation Stevie must be making an appearance.

Operation Stevie finished second in the 2016 Harrison, fourth in the 2017 renewal, won the race in 2018, and was third in the 2019 Harrison. You’d think that fifth time around Operation Stevie, at 8, might be getting a little long in the tooth and short of stride. He is, but he’s still the 7-5 morning-line favorite to take down his second Harrison in his fifth appearance.

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Quibble with the morning line if you like but it’s not unreasonable. Operation Stevie doesn’t quite seem to be the horse he once was, but the Harrison, at six furlongs for Indiana-breds, is down in quality this season, too. And whatever happens, Operation Stevie will remain an awesome claim by co-owner and trainer Cipriano Contreras, who took the gelding for $10,000 in May 2016. Operation Stevie has banked most of his $700,000-plus in earnings since that claim, and even early this year, he hit 90 and 89 on the Beyer Speed Figure scale. But Operation Stevie hasn’t run nearly that fast in three starts this Indiana Grand meet, and a gelding whose long, sustained run once was equally effective in sprints and routes has recently shown a preference for two-turn racing.

Double Tuff, who’s 9-5 on the line, won the 2019 Harrison by almost five lengths, but Wednesday’s start will be his first since November. Double Tuff has been posting flashy work preparing for this comeback run, but drew the rail and could be in for a demanding trip.

That leaves Thatswhatithought as the pick to win the Harrison. Thatswhatithought makes his stakes debut Wednesday, earning the chance with a 9 1/2-length allowance-race romp on Aug. 4. Thatswhatithought is the controlling speed of the Harrison and is well drawn in post 8 to press his tactical advantage.

Unbridled Class at 1-5

Sharing top billing on the program is the Harrison’s sister race, the Shelby County for Indiana-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs. The Shelby County drew eight entrants and appears to have a standout in Unbridled Class. Unbridled Class finished second in the 2019 Shelby County to Expect Indy, who also starts in Wednesday’s renewal, but broke from post 1 in last summer’s race, got in a speed duel, and was facing 11 opponents. This time around, she easily brings to bear the best recent form and has a much more comfortable outside post from which to deploy her speed. The apparent advantages are no secret, though, with Unbridled Class listed as the 1-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Bernie Flint and jockey Rodney Prescott.