He’s been a fierce contender on the Indiana racing circuit for the past two years and Cash Logistics just added to his bankroll with a win Wednesday in the 21st running of the $100,000 Empire Stakes at Indiana Grand.
Ridden by Alex Achard, it was his second stakes win at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Indiana.
A field of 12 entered the gate for the Empire Stakes with Cash Logistics (photo) beginning his journey from post nine. A slow start caused him some traffic trouble early on before he was able to find his best stride and move up into fourth in three-wide fashion early in the one and one-sixteenth mile event. Royal Icing and Edgar Morales rallied quickly from the extreme outside to secure the top spot and led the field through the first half of the race.
Around the final turn, Vice Cop and Marcelino Pedroza had a short lead from the inside before the late closers began swooping in, which included Cash Logistics widest of all. In the stretch, Cash Logistics opened up on the field by more than two lengths and was under a hand ride by Achard to the wire for the win by two and one-quarter lengths.
Starspangledxpress and DeShawn Parker moved in for second over Max Express and Sammy Bermudez, who closed from the back of the pack to finish third. The time of the race was 1:45.75.
“He broke flat today, and he was bumped a little because of the late break,” said Achard, who has been aboard for four of his six career wins. “But once he got started, he was fine.”
Cash Logistics is owned by Charlie Hancock and James Hancock and was bred by James Hancock. Genevieve “GiGi” Londono has trained the horse since the very beginning for the Hancocks.
“He (James) bred this horse at our farm in Floyds Knobs,” said Charlie Hancock. “We have a few brood mares and I used to train, but we let GiGi handle that now. She’s done a great job for us.”
Charlie Hancock is a long time participant in Thoroughbred racing. A judge by trade following a 36-year career practicing law in Floyd County, he was the youngest person to ever hold a trainer’s license in the state of Kentucky. His father bought him his first horse, Man’s Quest, when he was 13 years old. Now, the Hancock family is continuing the tradition of winning races through Cash Logistics.
A son of Unbridled Express, Cash Logistics has six wins in 14 career starts. The five-year-old gelding is three for seven this season and his earnings were boosted to more than $270,000 with the win in the Empire Stakes.
“He’s the same horse in the barn that you see when he races,” said Londono. “He’s a neat horse to be around and does everything you ask of him. It makes my job easy.”
