Shy Money got nearly all the cash in the 19th running of the $75,000 Shelby County Stakes. The win marked the first stakes victory for owner Paul King, who is also the breeder on the grey Unbridled Express four-year-old filly.
With earlier rain saturating the track and more rain lurking in the vicinity, Shy Money joined eight other females on the track for the Shelby County Stakes, which began the inaugural season of Thoroughbred racing at Indiana Grand. Ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel, Shy Money began her journey from post four and was in the lead down the backstretch, followed closely by race favorite Hungarian Princess and Sammy Bermudez.
In the stretch, Hungarian Princess began to make a move for the front spot and a battle ensued. Shy Money stood her ground and was able to fend off Hungarian Princess, just a three-year-old, at the finish line for the win by a nose in 1:10.35 over the sloppy surface. Sentimentaljourney and Jermaine Bridgmohan finished third.
The second choice in the race, Shy Money paid $7.40 for the win. It was her third straight win and her fourth in five career starts. Aaron West trains the Indiana sired filly for King, who was trackside to accept his first stakes trophy. King is relatively new to the business, purchasing his first horse in 2017. King and West began with Shy Money late last fall as a three-year-old with two starts in Indiana. They gave her the winter off and brought her back to the racetrack in mid-April.
“She (Shy Money) has a big heart,” said West, who has trained several Indiana champions in recent years, including Marina’s Legacy. “We are going to give her a break, now. She is undefeated sprinting, so we will keep her at that distance.”
Shy Money increased her career bankroll to more than $110,000 with the win. It was her first attempt in stakes action, and she is now three for three at the five-furlong distance.
The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Monday, Nov. 8. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state’s top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.
