Barn Tour: Randy Klopp is on a roll at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis doesn’t get a lot of attention, so it’s understandable if you didn’t know that one trainer has become a force in the track’s standings.
Randy Klopp is at the top of the list, with 21 wins from 83 starts in the meet that started April 15. He also was the top trainer last year and two of the prior three years, finishing second in 2023.
Klopp’s success shows up in his earnings too. He topped $1 million for the first time in 2021 and has stayed well above that mark since. So far this year, he’s at $638,202 for the meet, which runs through mid-November.
“I've got good owners that buy horses, and the money they make from the racing, it doesn't go into their pocket, it goes back into the races,” Klopp told Horse Racing Nation this week. “They don't do it to try to make a living or nothing like that. They just love horses.
“So they put the money back into the game,” he continued. “We always try to upgrade our stock every year.”
Klopp has about 50 racehorses in training at the track and another 50 at his farm about 30 miles away. He’s part-owner of some of his horses, and his wife, Liz Klopp, owns all or part of 13. She also runs the pony business for Horseshoe Indy.
Klopp provided an update on some of his horses for the latest in HRN’s Barn Tour series.
Playing the Angles. The 4-year-old gelding by Dialed In was moved to Klopp’s barn from Eric Reed’s over the winter. Klopp had him gelded, and he finished second after that and then broke his maiden May 14. He’s entered in an allowance race Wednesday. “He'll be a useful horse,” Klopp said. “… Hopefully he runs well Wednesday.”
Sleepy. This 3-year-old gelding by Keen Ice broke his maiden May 14 in his second start and is entered in the Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Handicap on Wednesday. “I look for the horse to run well,” Klopp said. “ … The first time I started him, he got in all kinds of trouble leaving the gate, and then when I ran him back, he went under wraps. So, and I talked to the client, and if you look at the race, most of the horses in the race are never-won-two horses, and it's a straight 3-year-old race. … It is a tough spot, but I guess we'll know after the race what we've got.”
Mondavila. Owned by Liz Klopp with Jill Patrick, this 3-year-old gelded son of Mondavi was bred by the late Elise Kendall, a friend of Klopp’s. “I watched this horse since he was a foal. And I told her, that one's mine.” Jill Patrick also was interested, and she joined Klopp as a partner. “He's run three times this year and had two wins and a second. One of them was a stake. He's a pretty nice horse.” His most recent start was last week, when he was second in the William Henry Harrison Handicap.
The Kid Pataky. Co-owned by Randy Klopp with Speiss Stable and Gran and Charles Turner, the 4-year-old filly by Pataki Kid has hit the board in her last nine starts, including five wins. “We bought that horse out of the digital sale this winter. … She's run well every start for us since." She is pointed to the Checkered Flag on June 25.
Ekati Flatter. A 5-year-old mare by Tale of Ekati owned by Klopp and Spiess Stable, she has a record of 25: 7-5-4 and won her only start this year, a handicap in April. She also is headed for the Checkered Flag. “She tries every time. She gives you all she's got every time. I think she'll be tough again in that race.”
Latigo. Randy Klopp and Spiess Stable have owned this 6-year-old Jimmy Creed gelding since he was a weanling. He has a win and a second this year, including in an optional-claiming allowance last out. “Can't say much bad about him. He's done everything well for us. He's right up to about a half-million dollars worth of earnings for us.” His next start will be in the Nobody Listens, also on June 25.