High Dollar Woman Controls Pace in Indiana Oaks

High Dollar Woman lived up to her name in the 20th running of the $200,000-added Indiana Oaks (G2) at Indiana Grand Saturday, July 18, setting all the pace over the sloppy main track to score at odds of 15-1 under jockey Joe Rocco Jr.

 

Breaking from post two in the field of nine, High Dollar Woman was second out of the gate, found herself on the lead and never looked back in the 1-1/16 mile race for three-year-old fillies. Sweetgrass tracked her all the way around and stayed in to finish a length back in second, 2-1/4 lengths ahead of 2-1 favorite Oceanwave in third. After setting textbook fractions of :24.21, :48.04 and 1:12.32, High Dollar Woman clocked the mile in 1:37.03 and finished in 1:43.49.

 

“I thought the five (All Day Alice) would be on the lead,” Rocco said, “but I hustled (High Dollar Woman) out of there a little bit and then she was just there in the front. I let her get comfortable and she had plenty to come home for the drive. I thought we’d be close—not necessarily in front, but that’s how it worked out. She was coming off a sprint race (June 26), kind of a prep for this, and she needed that; (trainer) Steve (Hobby) said she was training really forwardly after that race, so she was coming into this race fantastic. She was on the bit, I found a tire track to put her in, and she did her thing. I think Steve is a tremendous horseman and he did a great job getting her ready.”

 

High Dollar Woman was making her second start for Hobby, who took over her training from Tony Dutrow after a fifth-place finish in the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park in January.  Ahh Chocolate was fourth, followed by Silverpocketsfull, Emmajestic, Zeven, Pangburn and All Day Alice.

 

Earning her first stakes win, High Dollar Woman rewarded her backers with $32.40 to win, $11.80 to place and $5 to show. She is by Super Saver out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Melissa Jo. She improved her record to three wins and one second in seven career starts and now has $210,945 in earnings for owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

 

Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues at Indiana Grand through Saturday, Oct. 31. Racing is conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:05 p.m. with Saturday evening post at 6:05 p.m. Thursday racing will be added beginning Sept. 17.

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Cabana ran down Sweet N Wicked and then held off a furious late run by Call Pat to prevail by a neck in the sixth running of the $100,000-added Mari Hulman George Stakes at Indiana Grand Saturday, July 18. Sweet N Wicked stayed in another half-length back to take third in the 1-1/16 mile races for fillies and mares three years and older. Cabana’s time for the 1-1/16 mile race was 1:43.98 over a sloppy track.

 

“She (Cabana) broke good and I was just trying to get her comfortable,” said winning jockey Luis Quinonez. “Then turning for home she picked it up. When I asked her, she was there and responded.”

 

Breaking from post four, Sweet N Wicked took the lead early as Cabana angled over from the seven post to track the pace about a length behind. Sweet N Wicked continued to lead past the half-mile mark, setting the pace at :24.47 and :48.76 before Cabana put her head in front to set the six-furlong mark in 1:12.50. As Sweet N Wicked dropped a half-length back in the stretch, Call Pat came flying late from last in the field of six to just miss on the outside.

 

Sent off at odds of 2.40-1 as second choice, Cabana paid $6.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show.

Elusive Fate was fourth, followed by the favorite Unbridledexplosion and Tahoe Tigress. Wave of the Wand was scratched by her trainer.

 

A four-year-old filly by Flatter out of the El Prado mare Sobresaliente, Cabana returned to the races just last month after being off since October. The Mari Hulman George Stakes was her third start this year and her first stakes win. Her record now stands at five wins, two seconds and two thirds from 15 career starts, with lifetime earnings of $187,499 for owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. She is trained by Donnie Von Hemel.