Bluelightspecial shined bright in the 15th running of the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Fillies Handicap Wednesday, June 21 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Ridden by Manny Esquivel, the three-year-old filly earned her third straight win this year.
Starting from post four in the 10-filly lineup, Bluelightspecial got the green light from Esquivel to head to the lead. She was joined on the inside by Honey Red and Joe Ramos and Riley’s Redemption and DeShawn Parker on the outside with Ekati Flatter and Sammy Bermudez widest of all heading into the first turn of the one and one-sixteenth mile route. By the time the field had hit the backside, Bluelightspecial had established herself as the leader and set the tempo to the final turn.
Corningstone and Joe Talamo came up on the outside in mid-turn to challenge, but Bluelightspecial extended her stride and took back the lead for the stretch drive. In the stretch, she pulled away to a three and three-quarter length advantage for the win in 1:44.15. Corningstone was a comfortable second over Honey Red.
“I was able to give her a little breather in the second turn, and when the six (Corningstone) came up on her, she took off,” said Esquivel. “She had a lot of horse left at that point.”
Bluelightspecial was the favorite of the field, paying $2.80. The Indiana bred daughter of Super Saver is owned by Andrew Knapczyk and Contreras Stable. Cipriano Contreras handles the training duties for the filly, who is now five for 12 lifetime with earnings of more than $275,000.
“My owner Andy (Andrew Knapczyk) bought this filly out of the Ocala Sale as a two-year-old,” said trainer Cipriano Contreras. “She was already broke when I got her. She has always been well mannered and nice to be around. I haven’t seen too much of a change in her this year. She’s matured a little. She was a nice filly last year too. She just seems to get better with every start.”
Esquivel has ridden Bluelightspecial to three of her five career wins. Now riding full time in Indiana, he was among the track’s top five jockeys last season and has ridden the filly in all of her Indiana starts.
“She broke on top from the gate in both of her starts here this year and has raced well on the front,” said Esquivel. “But I don’t see any reason why she can’t come from behind too. She was a very nice filly last year too. In the Back Home Again race going short last year, she had traffic trouble several times and still finished third. She is very easy to ride and doesn’t do anything wrong. That is the type of horse you always want to ride.”
The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing is held Tuesday through Thursday with Saturday racing added in during the summer months. First post Tuesday and Wednesday is 2:30 p.m. Thursday racing begins at 2:10 p.m. The Summer Saturday Racing Series includes five all-Quarter Horse dates July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana’s featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for 12 p.m. Saturday, July 8. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.
