Ria Antonia Heads Indiana Oaks Probables
Ria Antonia, the lone filly starter in the Grade I $1.5 million Preakness Stakes earlier this year against powerhouse horses such as California Chrome and Ride On Curlin, heads the list of probables for the 19th running of the Grade II $200,000-added Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The event will be carded as the ninth race on the 11-race program with an approximate post time of 8:40 p.m. EST, just one race before the Grade II $500,000-added Indiana Derby, which has an estimated post time of 9:30 p.m. EST.
Ria Antonia first gained national attention when she won the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall. The Rockport Harbor daughter returned for her three-year-old season, finishing second in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks followed by a sixth place finish in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, before battling the boys in the Preakness Stakes. To date, Ria Antonia, trained by Tom Amoss, has more than $1.3 million in purse earnings for owners Chris Dunn and Loooch Racing Stable, Inc.
Amoss is currently leading the standings for all trainers at Indiana Grand for the third consecutive year. Horses from his barn have earned 46 wins this year and the stable is closing in on $1 million in purse earnings just at Indiana Grand for 2014. Amoss is the track’s second all-time leading trainer behind Gary Patrick with 216 wins and nearly $4.5 million in purse earnings. He has one previous winner in the Indiana Oaks with Baghdaria, who earned the 2006 title. Ria Antonia would be only the third starter in the Indiana Oaks for Amoss.
Joining Ria Antonia on the list of probables for the Indiana Oaks is the Dallas Stewart-trained Unbridled Forever. A third place finisher in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks earlier this year, the Unbridled’s Song filly finished second two starts back in the Grade I TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. Her last race was contested in the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga where she finished eighth. Unbridled Fever is owned by Charles Fipke. Stewart is also a past Oaks winner, saddling French Braids to victory in 1998 for the fourth running of the event.
Other fillies on the list of probables for the Indiana Oaks includes Holiday Magic, Pretty Fancy and Saintly Joan. A total of 43 fillies nominated to the Indiana Oaks, which has been paired with the Indiana Derby since 2010 to create a strong night of racing for fans.
Nine stakes will be on the racing program Indiana Derby Night totaling more than $1.3 million in purses. Other stakes on the card include the $100,000-added Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Mile, the $100,000-added Mari Hulman George, the $100,000-added Ta Wee Stakes, the $85,000-added City of Anderson, the $85,000-added Crown Ambassador, the $85,000-added Indiana Stallion Stakes Filly Division and the $85,000-added Hillsdale Stakes.
Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Saturday, Nov. 1 offering racing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 2:05 p.m. with Friday and Saturday action beginning at 5:05 p.m. For more information, visit the Website at indianagrand.com.
Source: Indiana Grand