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The rich $4.8 million stakes season gets underway Wednesday, May 18, with Caesars Stakes Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Four stakes are set for the 10-race card highlighted by the $150,000 Caesars Stakes (Listed) and the $150,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes, Indiana’s richest turf races.
A field of eight is set for the 17th running of the Caesars Stakes in the ninth race. Tommy Bee from the Brad Cox Stable has been tagged as the morning line favorite at odds of 2-1. Starting from post four, the three-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt comes into the race with two wins and two seconds in four starts for 2022. His last race was a win at Keeneland in allowance company. Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Tommy Bee.
Joining Tommy Bee as a favorite in the field is Stitched from the Greg Foley barn. The Mizzen Mast colt has won three of five races this season, including his last start at Churchill Downs. Stitched begins from post five at odds of 4-1 with Florent Geroux aboard.
For the fillies, Alittleloveandluck has been tagged the favorite of the 14th running of the Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes, a Black Type event. The Arrogate filly, owned and trained by Michael Dini, won the $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this year. Paco Lopez will ride the grey filly from post two at odds of 2-1.
“Caesars Stakes Day is a great way for us to showcase our turf course,” said Chris Polzin, Director of Racing. “These two races have historically been held in the fall, but we saw an opportunity to move them to the beginning of the meet. All four stakes attracted full fields. We just kicked off turf racing earlier this month, so we are excited to officially launch our stakes season with such a strong racing card.”
The ninth running of the S100,000 Sagamore Sired Stakes is the first leg of the special All Stakes Pick 4 beginning in Race 6 followed by the $100,000 Swifty Sired Stakes in Race 7.
To help complement the afternoon, Horseshoe Indianapolis will showcase racehorse aftercare programs with the fourth annual Empire of Hope, a Caesars Entertainment Racing initiative. The event places the spotlight on life after racing for many horses who have competed at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The afternoon will feature a “Parade of Champions” with several outriders and pony horses showcased in their second careers after racing. More than $70,000 is allotted for equine related programs annually by Horseshoe Indianapolis with more than $30,000 of that total earmarked directly to racehorse aftercare programs. Additionally, several on-track fundraisers will be held periodically throughout the racing season with all proceeds earmarked to racehorse aftercare.
The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing begins Tuesday, April 19 and extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-
