Demolisher stays perfect with To Much Coffee Handicap win at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Demolisher has been perfect all season and that trend continued Wednesday in the 27th running of the $150,000 To Much Coffee Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The sophomore is now five-for-five for his career with his biggest win to date added to his resume. The race was one of six premier events on the day making up Hoosier Day showcasing the state’s top talent in the Thoroughbred ranks.

Demolisher was ready to go for Emmanuel Esquivel when the gate sprung open for the one and one-sixteenth mile race and the duo was on top of the field heading into the first turn. They never really moved over to the inside path and settled in nicely a lane out as they led the bulky field of 12 around the first turn.

Demolisher had a big hold on Esquivel, who continued to keep him rated and under wraps down the backstretch. One Big Dude and Eddie Perez sat to his outside in stalking position with Black White N Gold and Edgar Morales saving ground along the inside.

In the final turn, Esquivel signaled Demolisher it was time to go, and he took off, putting several lengths between him and the rest of the field. The still inexperienced Demolisher had a big lead heading into the turn, so much so, that he became a little distracted at one point where Esquivel had to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. The only horse that had an opportunity to possibly close the gap was Black White N Gold along the inside.

In the end, Demolisher was under a hand ride for the win by four lengths against older more experienced horses. Black White N Gold finished second followed by Zolo and Orlando Mojica, who moved in for third late in the race.

“He (Demolisher) looks for shadows to jump in the morning and he was looking at the tractor lines when we got into the stretch,” noted Esquivel. “He was out there on his own and just needed to get back into the race. He broke sharp today. He was a little antsy in the gate and he’s normally not like that, but he was just feeling good today. He’s just a fantastic horse and I appreciate the opportunity to get to ride him.”

Demolisher was the strong favorite for good reason, paying $3.00 for the win. The son of Dominus is owned by Kenneth Ayres. He and his wife, Resia, bred the gelding with well documented health issues to start his career. He has emerged from that illness as an outstanding racehorse for the family, who also raced his mother, Maggie Sue.

Cardinal Handicap

Ken McPeek came into the 28^th running of the $150,000 Cardinal Handicap with the favored Corningstone. A couple of scratches in the field moved his other entrant, Under the Palms, into the race and that horse turned out to be the one visiting the winner’s circle.

Under the Palms (photo), under the guidance of Colby Hernandez for the first time in a race, scored the upset victory at odds of 21-1.

Starting from post 11 in the field of 11 was the first challenge for Under the Palms, who was able to smoothly move out and find a spot mid pack heading into the first turn. Forever Pink and Joe Ramos rallied out a little harder from post 10 and was able to secure the second spot on the outside of Bluelightspecial and Emmanuel Esquivel through the first turn of the one and one-sixteenth mile event. Heading down the backstretch, Under the Palms moved up three-wide beside Forever Pink and the two horses moved in unison through the final turn.

Corningstone and Julien Leparoux made a strong move in the final turn to join the top two with three horses across the track at the head of the lane. Corningstone dug in gamely to get by the top two but could not make up any ground. Under the Palms got the best of Forever Pink, who came right back to retake the lead midway through the stretch.

Both horses were in a fierce battle to the wire, but Under the Palms was able to gain the advantage in the final strides to win by a neck over Forever Pink. Corningstone was a length back in third.

Under the Palms paid $44.20 for her second career win and her first in handicap action. The Enticed three-year-old filly is owned by Daniel McGreevy’s Tilted Shamrock Stables. Ken McPeek trains the filly, who was a $105,000 purchase from the Fasig Tipton Summer Yearling sale in 2022 from Justice Farm. She now has two wins in nine career starts after beginning her racing career last year at two at Saratoga. She now has more than $210,000 on her card for her connections.

Circle City Handicap

Jazzole (photo) extended his win streak to three and earned his first premier racing win at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It was the second win on the card for the father-son duo of Steve and Erik Asmussen.

Jazzole and Erik Asmussen got away in fourth in the six-furlong sprint as Slam Dunk Justice and Santo Sanjur were the quickest out of the gate alongside Dr Alex and DeShawn Parker. However, race favorite Large Pour and Fernando De La Cruz rushed up to retain their inside starting post and take over the top spot. Large Pour took over around the final turn and was drifting into the center of the track at the head of the lane.

In the stretch, Jazzole was able to save ground and skim the inside rail. Jazzole and Large Pour matched each other stride for stride before Jazzole was able to get the final edge on Large Pour at the wire for the win by a neck. Slam Dunk Justice retained his positioning for third.

Jazzole was a mild upset winner paying $14.20 for the win. The freshman son of Mitole was making his fourth career start, all at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He is now three for four with more than $110,000 on his card for owners William and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen trains the colt, who was a $50,000 purchase from the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale last fall from Indiana breeders Deann and Dr. Greg Baer of Columbus, Ind.

Back Home Again Stakes

Elegant Justice (photo) turned in a smooth performance to score her second straight victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Ridden by Sammy Bermudez, the two-year-old filly scored the win in the 24^th running of the $100,000 Back Home Again Stakes.

Elegant Justice and Bermudez were the race favorites and used early speed out of the gate in the six furlong event to get up close early. Miss Candela and DeShawn Parker got the first call along the inside followed closely by Don’t Miss Out and Emmanuel Esquivel, but midway down the backstretch Elegant Justice had taken over. The daughter of Hightail continued to lead the way around the turn and was primed and ready for the stretch drive.

Elegant Justice followed instructions from Bermudez and picked up the tempo for the stretch drive, fending off a late challenge from Hot Middles and Hannah Leahy. Elegant Justice was a two-length winner at the wire over longshot Hot Middles, who was open lengths ahead of Don’t Miss Out for third.

 Elegant Justice paid $2.40 for the win. The filly is owned by breeders Justice Farm and she is trained by Aaron West. She is now three for four in her brief career and gets her first stakes win to her credit from the Back Home Again Stakes.

ITOBA Stallion Season Fillies

Crosley (photo) earned her first premier racing victory in the 11^th running of the $100,000 ITOBA Stallion Season Fillies, a one mile, 70 yard event.

The race was named in memory of Whitlee Fuller, who passed away earlier this season at the age of 3. She is the daughter of D.J. and Alyssa Fuller, both involved in racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Shipshewana and Joe Ramos left the gate with authority from the inside post and were joined by Crosley and Edgar Morales heading into the first turn. Crosley never left Shipshewana’s flank through the first turn as Rafaella and Fernando De La Cruz inched up on the outside to also put pressure on the leaders.

Shipshewana led through the final turn before Crosley took over and took off. The three-year-old daughter of Pass Rush sprinted away from the field for the win by three and one-quarter lengths. Solrun and Rodney Prescott rallied up late to finish second over Shipshewana on the inside for third.

Crosley was the favorite of the field, despite not racing since May. It was her third start of 2024 and two of those are wins.

Crosley is a second generation foal from Spooky Hollow Racing. Her dam, Amberly Village, is also an Indiana bred who scored two wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis before retiring as a brood mare.

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