Demolisher crushes in Bucchero at Horseshoe Indianapolis

It was a tall task for Demolisher, the three-year-old Indiana bred son of Dominus. But the youngster stepped up in a major way to win his first-ever trip around the turf and his first race against older horses in the 20th running of the $100,000 Bucchero Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Back for his fourth career start with jockey Emmanuel Esquivel, Demolisher (photo) was also saddled with an outside post in the one and one-sixteenth mile turf event. Tight quarters put the squeeze on him early, but he barreled his way through traffic and was in mid pack before the arrival of the first turn. Indocumentado and Javier Padron-Barcenas grabbed the inside spot early followed by Hoosier Daddy Now and Sammy Bermudez, who took over at the midway point.

Demolisher had moved up on the outside and was sitting in a tight grip by Esquivel in third as the field moved into the final turn.

“Sometimes when horses run over the turf the first time, they are stepping into a whole new track,” explained Esquivel. “They will sometimes be hesitant, but he was traveling really nice over it and was very relaxed heading into the first turn. When we switched leads down the backstretch, the horses were tight on him, and he felt the pressure and he wanted to go.”

Late closers began to make their move on the outside and Demolisher went with them. At the head of the lane, he was nose to nose with several horses in search of the top spot. He went to work. Esquivel asked him to advance, and he did with authority, rolling down the lane to an open length win to keep his four-race undefeated streak intact.

Jeopardy Theory and Fernando De La Cruz saved ground along the inside to finish one and one-quarter lengths back in second followed by Zolo and Orlando Mojica for third.

“He sure doesn’t show much ability in the mornings,” said Esquivel, who is on him a lot during training. “But he’s a different horse in a race. He was as fit as could be coming into his last race and was the same today. He definitely showed up. Cipriano deserves a lot of credit for having him ready for this race. He’s liked him the whole time.”

Demolisher was a mild upset winner, paying $14.40 to his backers. The three-year-old was only one of three sophomores in the field of 12. He is a home bred by Ken and Resia Ayres with Ken assuming the ownership responsibilities of him now. Cipriano Contreras trains the gelding, who is now approaching a quarter million in career earnings in only two months of racing.

“I got him (Demolisher) last year and I liked him, but I talked to Mr. Ken (Ayres), and we just thought it would be better to wait to race him,” said Contreras. “He just couldn’t take the training last year. He was never sore, he just had some growing and maturing to do.”

Demolisher also had some recuperating to do. As a foal, he developed a rare disease that almost cost him his life. Thanks to the efforts of several veterinarians in Kentucky near the Ayres home, he recovered from R-Equi pneumonia and joined the rest of the foals his age. It was that interaction that Ken noticed in the field that led to his name.

“When he was a foal in the field, he stayed to himself, but when he played with the other foals, he was the leader,” noted Ken. “I made a comment about how he was a ‘demolisher’ and the name stuck. We are so surprised and excited with him. His mother (Maggie Sue) actually won a race over the turf at Tampa, so I thought he might like it. He did.”

The Ayres spent their early working careers in Indianapolis with Ken owning and operating The Design Group, the graphic design company that created the original Indiana Pacers logo. After retirement, they moved to Lexington, Ky., where Resia now serves as operations manager for Grayson-Jockey Club Equine Research Foundation. They have a small breeding and racing operation but have kept their roots in Indiana with their breeding program.

“Demolisher’s mother, Maggie Sue, is in foal to Maximum Security but her yearling half sister to Demolisher is by Cloud Computer, who is Indiana bred,” added Ken. “We also raced Image Run in Indiana with Cipriano (Contreras). She is a sister to Demolisher, and she is now in foal to Mystic Guide.”

Both Contreras and Ayres have intentions of staying in Indiana for now with Demolisher.

“Right now, we are still in Indiana and that is our plan,” added Contreras. “I’d like to see him run as a five and six year old. We have no plans to race anywhere else. We will stay here for now.”

Peony Handicap

Sand and Sea has been an honest, hard working runner her entire life. She now adds her name to the premier racing list in Indiana with a win in the $100,000 Peony Handicap held Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Sand and Sea began her journey from post five with Axel Concepcion aboard. She left the gate with just enough speed in the one and one-sixteenth mile turf race to gain a good spot up close along the inside as Bluelightspecial and Manny Esquivel claimed the pace setting spot. Heavenly Rich and Joseph Bealmear joined the top runner heading into the first turn with Best Cupcake and Gavin Ashton to their outside. They eventually backed off to third on the outside of Sand and Sea.

As the field moved into the far turn, Sand and Sea (photo) had a big hold on Concepcion right behind Bluelightspecial. The mare indicated racing room would be all she needed, and when that spot opened up at the head of the lane, she was out and cruising right on by her opponents. Sand and Sea opened up to a one and three-quarter lead at the wire for the win in 1:40.96. Louder than Words and Sammy Bermudez moved up late for second over Bluelightspecial, who claimed the third spot in a photo with Best Cupcake.

“I had a lot of horse in the final turn,” noted Concepcion, a multiple Graded Stakes winning jockey who relocated to the Midwest earlier this year. “I just wanted to wait for the right moment. I just wanted to take my time. When I had room, I moved her out and asked her and she responded.”

Sand and Sea ended up being the favorite among several Indiana standouts, including last year’s Peony winner Louder Than Words. She paid $3.20 for the win.

Hailing from the Riley Mott barn, Sand and Sea has been with her same connections throughout her career. After being sold as a weanling for $110,000, she was consigned to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was purchased for $180,000. The Indiana bred was unraced at two, and lightly raced at three before coming onto the scene as a four-year-old, earning the bulk of her $323,000 bankroll. The daughter of Liam’s Map obviously showed promise for Mott, who is the son of Hall of Fame Trainer Bill Mott.

“She’s been in our barn ever since I’ve been there, which has been since March of 2023,” said Allen Cuddie, assistant trainer for Riley Mott. “She’s easy to take care of and doesn’t need anything special. She just loves to run. We just try to keep her happy.”

Sand and Sea exits Horseshoe Indianapolis with more than $383,000 on her card. The six-year-old mare, bred by Dennis Farkas, is now seven for 22 lifetime. It was her second win in Indiana, paired with a victory on the dirt last fall at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Concepcion gained notoriety last year, earning the 2023 Eclipse Award for outstanding Apprentice Jockey. Only 19 years old, the Puerto Rican-born rider began his career in his native land, winning his first stakes race there before relocating to the United States. He has found success at numerous tracks from the Mid-Atlantic region to Fair Grounds and completed 2023 in 14^th place among all jockeys by wins with 200 trips to various winner’s circles.

The young rider has fared well both in Kentucky and Indiana, now adding a premier race to his credentials in the Hoosier State.

“It was my first time to ride her (Sand and Sea), and I didn’t really have any instructions,” said Concepcion. “They just told me not to worry about the first part of the race and to just let her get out of the gate and follow along. She was very relaxed early and ran well behind the horses. She’s a nice mare to ride.”

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