Holy Justice won her second straight start and her first stakes win in the 21st running of the Back Home Again Stakes at Indiana Grand.
Ridden by Jose Riquelme, the two-year-old chestnut filly won the six-furlong sprint in 1:13.24.
Holy Justice (photo leading) left the gate for positioning but so did several other contenders. She sat patiently mid pack as Flirty Dancer and Joshua Morales set the tempo up front. Around the only turn of the race, Riquelme moved around rivals and was in a pack of horses hoping for the win at the head of the lane.
It was anybody’s race to win at the top of the stretch as Holy Justice emerged in the center of the track as a serious contender. She dug in gamely and fended off late challengers to score the win by a half length over Louder Than Words and Sammy Bermudez, who rallied up late for second. No More Fake News and DeShawn Parker finished a close third.
Holy Justice is owned by Bruce Murphy and Genaro Garcia’s Southwest Racing Stable. They purchased her for $1,800 out of the Indiana Mixed Sale last fall as a yearling.
“I think we got really lucky with this filly,” said Garcia, who also trains. “We bought a couple. This filly was not big, but she had nice conformation and we liked her breeding. Plus, the Justice (Farms) horses are really nice.”
Holy Justice is now two for three in her career with earnings of nearly $100,000. It was the first time Riquelme had ridden her in a race.
“I worked this filly, and I liked her,” said Riquelme. “She is a good mover. We were boxed and boxed today, but when we got clear, she was running. I think she’s going to be a really good one.”
