Two Thoroughbred stakes will be featured on today’s racing program at Indiana Grand.
Slated as the eighth race on the card, the 18th running of the $100,000 Peony Stakes will be contested at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles over the turf course for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up.
The race, named in honor of the State of Indiana’s official flower, was part of a group of stakes renamed this past winter.
Bloody Mary Mornin (photo) and Rodney Prescott have been tagged as the early morning line favorites at odds of 5-2 in the Peony with an estimated post time of 1:21 p.m. The duo comes into the race off two wins and a second-place finish since arriving in the Randy Matthews barn.
Matthews, who previously trained the Go Lionel Go chestnut mare and lost her due to a claim last fall, is reunited with Bloody Mary Mornin, who now has seven career wins in 20 career starts and more than $227,000 in earnings. The six-year-old begins from post three in the full field of 12 that includes two also eligibles.
Bumble of Love and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. also are favored in the event at odds of 7-2. The four-year-old Hampton Court filly has won her last two starts, both over the Indiana Grand turf course. She is three for five in 2021 under the direction of trainer Brian Michael.
The Peony Stakes is joined by the 17th running of the $100,000 Bucchero Stakes, carded as the ninth race with an estimated post time of 1:50 p.m. The race was renamed this past winter to honor the state’s all-time leading Indiana bred money earner, Bucchero, who completed his career with 11 wins and earnings in excess of $947,000.
Bucchero is owned by Ironhorse Racing and is now standing at stud in Florida. His first foals will be on the track next year.
Headlining the Bucchero Stakes, which will be run over the turf course at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles, is Strong Tide from the Mike Lauer barn. The four-year-old English Channel colt ran in the Grade I $600,000 Mr. D.S. at Arlington in his last start. Jon Court travels to Indiana to ride Strong Tide, who is the son of Indiana Grand track record holder on the turf, Dreamin Big.
They will begin from post nine in the 12-horse field at odds of 7-2.
Cash Logistics is the second favorite of the field. Starting from post four, the four-year-old Unbridled Express gelding from the Genevieve Londono Stable was a winner in his last start. Alex Achard will ride the grey at odds of 5-1 on the morning line.
