Jailhouse Justice gives new owner first Indiana win

Horseplayer Tony Bradshaw finally saw his dream come to life Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville.

His horse, Jailhouse Justice, nicknamed “JJ,” scored a late running charge to the finish for his first win, giving Bradshaw a trackside view of the victory, his first in-person win as a Thoroughbred owner.

“This is a dream come true,” said the soft spoken Bradshaw following his win with JJ. “I’ve followed horse racing all the way back to when I was a kid, going to the track with my grandfather. This is a thrill to be in the winner’s circle.”

Bradshaw’s journey into Thoroughbred ownership started following his win in the 2022 Road to Louisville contest at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Part of his prize was the option to purchase an Indiana yearling from the ITOBA Fall Sale.

Horseshoe Indianapolis partnered with the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA. As a result, Bradshaw received $30,000 toward the purchase and care of a horse he selected from the sale, a promotion that lasted through the 2023 racing season last fall.

Bradshaw chose trainer Tony Granitz as his mentor and guide into Thoroughbred ownership. Granitz picked out several horses for Bradshaw at the sale, but Jailhouse Justice was the one Bradshaw had his eye on.

“I don’t know what there was about him, but he was my first pick,” said Bradshaw. “We waited on the Harry’s Holiday gelding, who sold later in the sale, and I was the winning bidder at $8,100.”

Jailhouse Justice made two starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis last season on the dirt course to no avail. It was determined the surface was the wrong choice for the horse.

“I love turf racing and that’s one of the reasons I chose Tony (Granitz) as my trainer, because he does really well on the turf,” said Bradshaw. “I never dreamed we would have a turf horse, but he has found his place now on the turf.”

Jailhouse Justice made his final start at Horseshoe Indianapolis last year on the turf with a good showing. It was the end of the promotion, but Bradshaw (photo, center) decided to stay in the business on his own with Granitz (photo, right), who now shares ownership of the gelding.

Granitz headed to Tampa Bay for a final start last season, which was a win over the turf. However, Bradshaw was not in attendance so he didn’t experience the thrill of seeing his horse win in person.

JJ returned to Horseshoe Indianapolis and made his Indiana debut a winning one Saturday with Andres Ulloa (photo, left) aboard in the $38,000 one mile turf for Indiana bred horses.

After following along near the back of the pack, JJ made up serious ground around the turn and was widest of all, heading to the finish line. He only had one horse to contend with at the finish line, another entrant from the Granitz barn, Humble Warrior ridden by Marcelino Pedroza Jr.

JJ got the win by a head bob at the finish.

“I am thrilled,” added Bradshaw. “He (JJ) has a big following now. I get calls all the time about when he’s going to run next. My mom is more excited than I am, I think. She is constantly calling me asking for updates about JJ and when he’s going to race. This has been an awesome experience.”

Bradshaw’s experience is going to move to the next level in his next start. Jailhouse Justice is pointing toward the $100,000 Snack Handicap set for Indiana Derby Day, a one mile Indiana sired and bred turf event.

“I told Tony (Bradshaw) if he ran well in this race, we’d bring him back for the Snack on Derby Day,” added Granitz. “He (JJ) earned his place in that race after his win today. The timing is just perfect too for his next start.”

No doubt Bradshaw will be trackside cheering on his turf contender in front of the biggest stage all season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Indiana Derby Day will feature eight premier events with purses totaling more than $1.1 million, and the Snack is part of that lineup.

The day will lead up to the 30th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby, Indiana’s richest Thoroughbred race. First post for July 6 for Indiana Derby Day is noon.

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