Socorro’s Prayer romps in Unreachable Star Handicap
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A wide draw could not prevent Socorro’s Prayer from reaching the front and leading throughout Saturday’s $150,000 Unreachable Star Handicap for 3-year-old statebreds at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Ridden by Alberto Burgos, Socorro’s Prayer, who paid $8.60 as the second choice of 11, drew clear through the stretch to win by 5 3/4 lengths over 29-1 Infinite Speed. Hard Luck Prayer, the 9-10 favorite, finished third by 7 3/4 lengths after racing from off the pace. Hard Luck Prayer won stakes for statebreds in his two previous starts.
The Unreachable Star Handicap was one of four six-figure Thoroughbred stakes for statebreds on a blockbuster 14-race program.
Socorro’s Prayer, a colt by Prayer for Relief, won his fourth consecutive start, and first stakes, in the Unreachable Star Handicap. He finished a mile and 70 yards in 1:40.98.
Owned by Haran Thoroughbreds and trained by John Haran, Socorro’s Prayer has won 5 of 12 starts and earned $225,735. The first three races of the winning streak were allowance races.
Haran told Horseshoe Indianapolis publicity that Socorro’s Prayer will be given a rest.
“I think we’re probably going to give him a well-deserved break,” Haran said. “He’s a champion 3-year-old and deserves a break.”
Prayer for Relief had three six-figure stakes winners at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday.
In the preceding race, Prayer Unbridled won the counterpart of the Unreachable Star Handicap for 3-year-old fillies, the $150,000 Lady Fog Horn Handicap at a mile and 70 yards.
Prayer Unbridled, also by Prayer for Relief, was always near the front and pulled clear in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:42.75. Ridden by Joseph Ramos, Prayer Unbridled paid $12.40 as the third choice in a field of 10.
Lady Chaos (5-1) closed from eighth to finish second, a length in front of 7-2 Spirited Justice. Smokinhot Justice, the 3-1 favorite, finished fifth, beaten 10 1/4 lengths.
Prayer Unbridled won for the fourth time in her 14th start in the Lady Fog Horn Handicap, and for the first time in a stakes.
Prayer Unbridled was always close to pacesetter Relentless Chick before taking the lead. She urged into contention at the end of the backstretch.
“We know she has speed, so we went to plan B,” Ramos said.
Prayer Unbridled, who has earned $193,740, races for owner and trainer Terry Phillips, who had a milestone day on Saturday, recording the first two stakes wins of his career.
Earlier on the program, Prayer for Music, another filly owned and trained by the 41-year-old Phillips, won her second consecutive start, and stakes debut, in the $102,250 Indiana Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies.
Ridden by Alexander Crispin, Prayer for Music overcame a troubled start to take an early lead. She was clear throughout and won the six-furlong race by 2 3/4 lengths against a field of nine.
Prayer for Music, who paid $4 as the favorite, was timed in 1:11.08. She won a maiden race for statebred fillies by 8 1/2 lengths on Oct. 11 in her second start.
Prayer for Music finished clear of 7-2 Q’s Music Dancer, who was beaten for the first time in her third start. Q’s Music Dancer closed from sixth to finish second, four lengths clear of 14-1 Forever Release.
Prayer for Music, by Prayer for Relief, has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $85,846.
In the day’s second stakes, Kansascityjustice won for the second time in his last three starts, and won his first stakes, in the $100,000 Crown Ambassador Stakes for statebred 2-year-olds at six furlongs.
Ridden by Andres Ulloa, Kansascityjustice stalked pacesetter Merrylegs before taking the lead with a furlong remaining. Kansascityjustice won by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-1 Mo Rambo, who finished four lengths clear of 3-2 Merrylegs in a field of nine.
Kansascityjustice, who paid $4.80 as the favorite, ran six furlongs in 1:11.01. She has earned $109,357.
Kansascityjustice, by Harry’s Holiday, races for Marlon Graham and trainer Robert Gorham.
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