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Expect Indy wins third straight title in Richmond Stakes at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

Expect Indy was expected to be a major contender in the 20th running of the Richmond Stakes Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Indiana Grand and she didn’t disappoint. The older Indiana sired mare turned it on in the stretch to win her third straight title. As a result, Expect Indy moved into second on the list of all-time leading Indiana bred or sired females in the state’s history with a bankroll that exceeds $541,000.

 

Hailing from the Cipriano Contreras barn, Expect Indy started from the outside post six in the lineup and moved with intention early out of the gate for jockey Emmanuel Esquivel. The seven-year-old mare couldn’t quite get to the lead on her own but was content to follow along on the outside of Unbridled Class and Marcelino Pedroza, who set the early tempo.

 

“We knew we didn’t want to be too far off (the pace) so we could make it a race in the end,” added Contreras. “It’s just kind of the way the race played out today.”

 

Around the final turn, the field began to pitch their best moves to overtake the top two, but both Expect Indy and Unbridled Class were not backing down. In the stretch, it became a two-horse match race as the duo matched each other stride for stride until the final steps, placing Expect Indy on the winning end by two and three-quarter lengths over Unbridled Class. Pretty Assets, who was last most of the way, came charging late in her usual running style for third with DeShawn Parker aboard. The time of the one and one-sixteenth mile race was 1:46.24.

 

“She broke well and after that, she was forwardly placed,” said Esquivel. “The rest, she pretty much did on her own. She’s a lot different horse to ride going long. When she’s going short you have to chase her some because she gets so comfortable.”

 

Expect Indy paid $7.40, $3.00 and $2.20 across the board. It was her 12th career win for Andrew Berg’s Gumpster Stable. Eight of her career victories have been recorded at Indiana Grand, and it marked the first of the year for the daughter of Mr Mabee, who was bred by Lake Shore Farm.

 

“We’ve been trading places a lot with the other mare (Unbridled Class) and she’s definitely a nice mare (to compete against),” said Contreras. “We kind of planned on this race and running well in it and still hoping she (Expect Indy) was the same horse as last year.”

 

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Wednesday, Nov. 18. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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