Former claimer Inthemidstofbiz upsets TCA, earns Breeders' Cup berth

Claimed for $20,000 last October at Keeneland, Inthemidstofbiz returned 12 months later to stamp a Breeders’ Cup ticket.

The 4-year-old Fed Biz filly upset Keeneland’s Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on Saturday at 13-1 odds. Inthemidstofbiz clinched a “Win and You’re In” berth to compete over the same course Nov. 7 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Inthemidstofbiz entered off an Aug. 31 victory at Presque Isle Downs in the Satin and Lace Stakes. The TCA marked the first graded triumph for a filly who ran in a waiver claiming race for a $16,000 tag at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 15.

“She keeps getting a little better and better,” said trainer Cipriano Contreras, who earned the second graded stakes win of his career. “We started off, we claimed this filly and actually ran her for 16 at Oaklawn. Out of nowhere, she started running a little better. We took a shot and it worked out.”

Under jockey Martin Garcia, Inthemidstofbiz broke from post No. 6 on Saturday in the field of seven fillies and mares going six furlongs. She settled into third place as Lady’s Island made the first quarter-mile in :22.12.

Inthemidstofbiz rallied on the outside coming through the turn and seized the lead. She was never threatened down the stretch, hitting the wire two lengths clear of Sneaking Out, who edged Palace Avenger for second.

The winner posted a final time of 1:09.84 and returned $28.20. Contreras Stable and Andrew Knapczyk own the Kentucky-bred Inthemidstofbiz, who improved to 13: 6-2-1 in her career.

Inthemidstofbiz joins Serengeti Empress as runners to win Challenge Series races for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Other potential contenders in that division include Bell’s the One, Bellafina, Come Dancing, Four Graces, Gamine and Venetian Harbor.