Chipofftheoldblock is proving that age is a good thing. The four-year-old son of Ready’s Image is now on a three-race win streak and earned his first stakes title in the 25th running of the $75,000 Brickyard Stakes Wednesday at Indiana Grand.
Chipofftheoldblock has soared to new heights this season with two five-plus-length wins coming into the Brickyard Stakes. He was the early morning line favorite and lived up to his status in the six-furlong event.
Starting from the outside post in the 11-horse lineup, Chipofftheoldblock came out of the gate ready to go and found the spot that jockey Marcelino Pedroza hoped for, just off the leaders in third. Mr Manning and Orlando Mojica also left alertly from the outside to challenge Flowerpecker and Sammy Bermudez for the top spot.
Around the final turn, Pedroza tipped Chipofftheoldblock three-wide around the top two and was leading the way at the top of the stretch. The only horse at that point to watch out for was Double Tuff and Jesus Castanon, who began closing ground. However, Chipofftheoldblock continued to stretch out with his big stride, winning the race by one length over Double Tuff. Flowerpecker held for third.
“He’s one of the best Indiana breds I’m riding right now,” said Pedroza. “He didn’t mind the muddy track today, but I still think he’s better on a normal track. We were sitting right off the leaders, and when I moved him, I had a lot of horse. I knew Double Tuff would be closing in, but my horse held on and got the job done.”
Chipofftheoldblock is now 6-for-17 during his career. He pushed his career bankroll over the $229,000 mark with his first stakes win for owner Penny Lauer. Penny and Mike Lauer, the trainer, bred the Indiana-bred gelding from a mare in their operation, Mizzen My Momma by Mizen Mast.
“We raced this horse’s mother (Mizzen My Momma) but I wanted to keep her because I love Mizzen Mast mares,” said Lauer, who is the track’s all-time leading stakes winning trainer. “He is a half brother to Drinkatthecreek (finished fifth in the Checkered Flag Stakes on the same day.)”
Chipofftheoldblock had two wins last season but Lauer stopped with the sophomore in September. During that break, he recovered from a minor injury and was castrated, which has made the difference in the big horse with a big personality.
“He hurt his hind foot last year, so we backed off with him,” said Lauer. “He’s a big growth colt so he just now seems to be coming around. He’s a very charismatic horse, so we keep him with our string at the Training Center. He just shipped up this morning and will head back to Louisville tonight.”
Lauer has 30 at Indiana Grand with an additional 12 stabled at the Training Center. With a majority of Indiana breds in his barn, they mainly race at Indiana Grand each summer.
