by Joe Quillen
Wednesday 6/19 – Horseshoe Indianapolis Race 7
After a successful return to the Delaware Valley, we leave for a trip to Indiana for the seventh race on the Horseshoe Indianapolis card, which is an allowance race going one mile on the turf course. The weather like most of the eastern half of the US will be hot but it will be sunny. This race is scheduled to go off at 5:16 pm Eastern time.
We have an overflow field of 15 fillies and mares here at Horseshoe Indianapolis where 12 will run. The 13 Evil Intentions (15/1 morning line) is scheduled for the main track only and will be scratched unless this race ends up on the main track. The 14 Vino Rosato (20/1 ML) and 15 Umeboshi (15/1 ML) will need horses to be scratched from the body of the field to run today.
Favored in this turf test is the 4 Crickenberger (4/1 ML) who returned to the races last month with a win here at Horseshoe Indy. She was off the pace and closed well to win in her first race in three months. She loves the turf here at Indy, having two wins in five tries, with a place and two show finishes.
Crickenberger will like that there is speed in this race. I’m expecting the 1 Bella Cruella (30/1 ML) to go from the rail. The 10 Always Wanting (12/1 ML) and the 11 Yay Hooray (6/1) also have been on the lead recently as well on the turf and I am expecting the same today.
The 7 Squash Blossom (8/1 ML) gets some class relief here coming to Horseshoe Indianapolis after running on the turf at Keeneland in April. She ran well on the synthetic at Turfway Park in come from behind efforts before heading to Keeneland. She got bumped around at Keeneland but was no factor. I’m expecting a better performance today that needs to be trouble free.
The 3 Star Wisher (9/2 ML) returns to the races after last racing at the end of October last year here at Horseshoe Indy, and she has been on the lead and also been off the pace. She might need this race, but I think she has the versatility to stalk as opposed to needing to be on the lead will help her today.
The 2 Habuiah (8/1 ML) returns to the races after a 10-month layoff here, and did win first race off the layoff like this situation last spring on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Something went amiss that she disappeared for ten months, but she could be stealing this at a nice price in a wide open race.
Finally, if Umeboshi draws in, she might be worth a play here. She was first race off of the layoff and running for the first time on the turf. She was no match against the top two finishers. But with a race under her belt, could she be in the same situation as Ponce de Leon in the Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle on Monday? Could Umeboshi be the horse that runs well in her second attempt on a new surface? Time will tell.
This is a wide open race here, and you could make an argument for most of these horses, especially ones that I did not mention. If the 15 Umeboshi draws in, in the spirit of my Saturday show, I have to take the “also eligible” entry, right? But my play here is the 7 Squash Blossom if the also eligible entrants are scratched. I’ll call this 7-2-4-3 here. Put the 15 in front of that if she draws in from the outside.
Today, we have a conditional play. If the 15 draws into the race, that is my selection. If not, I’ll go with the 7. With either horse, my play is $20 to win. Check my X account (@JoeQuills) and I will update you with my selection once the scratches are announced.
No matter your selection, stay cool, and best of luck today!
Check out my show “Also Eligible” on Saturday mornings at 10 am Eastern/7 am Pacific as AJ Johnson and I discuss the big races, the latest news in horse racing and much more!