Keen Liaison was a tough race mare at Indiana Grand a few years ago. Now, her first foal, Keens Blood Legacy, is carrying on the tradition.
The two-year-old son of Apollitical Blood earned the top spot in the $30,000 Miss Roxie Little Futurity Consolation Thursday at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Indiana. The race was a great precursor to Indiana Champions Day that will feature more than $1 million in purses, including five Quarter Horse Stakes.
Starting from post six, Keens Blood Legacy (photo) was in tight quarters at the start, but jockey Jose Ruiz kept the freshman on task over the rain-soaked sloppy track. Once he got his footing underneath him, he led the field of nine through the 350-yard dash and dug in gamely at the wire for the win by a neck over a fast-closing Bye Bye B Train and L.D. Martinez on the outside.
Jesses Beach and Edgar Diaz finished third in a tight photo, just a nose behind the second-place finisher. The time of the race was 18.137 seconds.
Trained by Erin Thompson, Keens Blood Legacy paid $13.80 for the win. It was only the second win in five starts for the home bred gelding, who hails from the Ohio base of James and Connie Black. Keens Blood Legacy more than doubled his bankroll to more than $30,000 with the win. He just missed the final, ranked 11th on the list with a time of 18.303. The 10th-place finisher that advanced to the final, All Star Beach, had a time of 18.300.
The 13th running of the $198,200 Miss Roxie Little Futurity Final will kick off Quarter Horse Stakes action Saturday during Indiana Champions Day at Indiana Grand. The event is slated as Race 9 on the 13-race program with Mr Michel from the Claudio Barraza barn receiving the early nod as the morning line favorite from post five with Erik Esqueda aboard.
Other Quarter Horse Stakes on the card include the 25th running of the $122,240 QHRAI Derby (Race 10); the 13th running of the $119,400 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Stakes (Race 11); the ninth running of the $108,540 Indiana Championship (Race 12); and the 25th running of the $146,360 Governor’s Stakes (Race 13).
Both the QHRAI Derby and Governor’s Stakes were two of the three initial stakes races held during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing in Indiana in 1997 at Hoosier Park.
Quarter Horse racing will follow seven races on the card dedicated to Thoroughbred racing. The first Quarter Horse race is slated for approximately 3:55 p.m. Martha Claussen, on-air racing analyst, will be trackside to cover the day’s activities while Jose Contreras, better known as “Los Ponies” on social media, will provide commentary and social media support for the event.
A special $1,000 Quarter Horse Champions Handicapping Contest will be offered on races 9-13, with first place receiving $500. The contest is open to all players, both on-track and online, that are 18 years of age and older.
The afternoon includes a full lineup of activities, from a cigar rolling station to two book signings.
Otto Thorwarth, who serves as the Quarter Horse Chaplain at the track, portrayed Ron Turcotte in the Disney movie “Secretariat” will sign his new book “No Ordinary Champion.”
Former Quarter Horse jockey Tina Cleary will sign her new book “Growing Up With Moocher” that is based on an Indiana racehorse.
For more information on Indiana Champions Day, go to www.indianagrand.com.
