Queen Caroline collects fourth straight win in Indiana Grand Stakes
Queen Caroline won her fourth race in a row and second six-figure turf stakes at the Indiana Grand meet when she turned a perfect trip under Alex Cintron into a one-length win over Believe in Bertie in the $207,800 Indiana Grand Stakes on Wednesday.
Queen Caroline, based in Maryland with trainer Michael Matz, is the first horse owned by Amy Moore. A daughter of Blame out of the Forestry mare Queens Plaza, Queen Caroline began her career with four losses before capturing a maiden race at Pimlico, the restricted Nellie Cox there, the Ta Wee at Indiana Grand, and the Indiana Grand on Wednesday.
Cintron, who generally rides the Mid-Atlantic circuit, continued his striking success at Indiana Grand, where he has gone 5-1-1 from eight starts, all stakes, during the last two years. Cintron has won with four of his five Indiana Grand turf runners.
“I feel so comfortable on that track,” Cintron said. “I really like that surface, and every time I come I have a live horse.”
Queen Caroline broke from the inside gate and hugged the fence as longshot Come to Mischief set splits of 23.84 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 47.51 for the half while tracked two wide by Believe in Bertie. Believe in Bertie pulled very hard down the backstretch and midway around the far turn jockey Shaun Bridghoman could wait no longer, letting his mount pounce on the pacesetter and take the lead. But Cintron and Queen Caroline went right with Believe in Bertie, collaring them at the eighth pole and inching away through the final furlong. The top two were clearly best, with Hidden Treat finishing third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Believe in Bertie. Auntie Joy, the 7-5 favorite, raced wide on both turns but still ran below form, finishing fifth.
Queen Caroline was timed in 1:35.08 for one mile on firm turf and paid $11 as the third choice.
“She’s just kind of been cocky ever since she got here,” said assistant trainer Patricia Cooper. “We were very confident today.”
Lady Foghorn repeats in Henderson
Odds-on favorite Lady Fog Horn rallied from seventh to win the $104,050 Florence Henderson Stakes for Indiana-bred fillies and mares for the second year in a row.
Ridden to victory by Albin Jimenez for trainer Tony Granitz and The Elkstone Group, the nom de course of owner Stuart Grant, Lady Fog Horn raced near the back of the field early, began a strong outside run around the far turn, made the lead at the head of the stretch, and coasted home a 1 1/4-length winner over Heart Song. Heart Song had trouble getting through on the rail inside pacesetting third-place finisher Sweet N Wicked through the stretch run and ran on decently to gain the place.
Lady Fog Horn ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.17 and paid $3.20 to win. A homebred, Lady Foghorn is by Zavata out of the Northern Spur mare Titia, and after Wednesday’s win her career record stands at a sparking 11-2-2 from just 19 starts.
Granitz said he plans to start Lady Foghorn twice more this meet in Indiana-bred races before trying her again this fall at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Cardinal, a race in which Lady Foghorn finished second last year.