Indiana Grand

Cowboy Culture (Quality Road--English Willow, by Smart Strike) will stand the 2021 breeding season at Whitney Farms in Monrovia, Indiana. Undefeated in two starts as a juvenile, Cowboy Culture was a leading turf horse on the Midwest circuit in 2017, highlighted by victories in the GIII Arlington Classic followed by the Centaur S. at Indiana Grand, which sits 40 minutes to the east of Whitney Farms. Cowboy Culture will stand for an introductory fee of $2,500 live foal with an option to breed additional mares at $1,500 each. Breeders who...

Arlington Park's former director of racing and racing secretary, Chris Polzin, will assume the same titles and duties at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, beginning Monday, Oct. 26. Associated with racing for nearly 40 years, Polzin is an Illinois native whose father, Elmer Polzin, was a Chicago-area turf writer and handicapper. Polzin has been with Arlington Park since the early '80s, holding positions ranging from press box statistician to clerk of scales. He was the director of racing and racing secretary for the past 11 years. "I'm very excited and...

Indiana Grand made its annual donation to Friends of Ferdinand, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization based in Mooresville, Ind., Aug. 12. The racehorse aftercare program, the only Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization in the state of Indiana, received $5,000 from the Community Relations program at the track. "Horse aftercare is such an important part of what wdo," said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing. "It is an honor to be able to make a small donation to assist them." The donation from Indiana Grand will...

Paul Sharp thought he had a good group of 2-year-olds at his farm over the winter and those trainees are proving the Ocala horseman right with a string of five maiden winners in the last five days, plus two graded stakes placings at Del Mar and Saratoga. "It always gives us a lot of gratification when these horses go on to win," Sharp said Wednesday, shortly after Ava's Grace (Laoban)'s third-place finish in the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga. "They can win first or second time out and usually the...

The "Grayson Grass Challenge," a five-week handicapping contest benefitting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and sponsored by Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, kicks off the week of Aug. 10. Participants will submit selections on two specified turf races each week at Indiana Grand through the week of Sept. 7. Each contestant will be given a $500 bankroll provided by Indiana Grand, of which $100 can be wagered each week. The bankroll can be used for win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers. At the end of the five weeks,...

4th-Indiana Grand, $32,500, Alw, 7-13, (NW2LX), 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.42, fm. NASTY (f, 3, Street Sense--Valiant Passion {GISP, $132,900}, by Lion Heart), firming into 4-5 favoritism to build on an eight-length graduation when trying turf and two turns for the first time June 18, LNJ Foxwoods's Nasty traveled like a winner every step of a Monday allowance at Indiana Grand and came home a measured one-length winner. Wrangled back to sit in a stalking second beneath Fernando de la Cruz, the $230,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition traveled strongly down...

Jockey Martin Garcia has tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss his scheduled ride aboard Miss T Too (Into Mischief) for trainer Bill Mott in Wednesday night's GIII Indiana Oaks. Daily Racing Form was first to report the news after speaking to Garcia's agent Jay Fedor. Garcia was replaced by Julien Leparoux. DRF said that Garcia, who had ridden at Ellis Park, Los Alamitos and Prairie Meadows in the last seven days, was tested Tuesday at Keeneland, a requirement to ride at the meeting which began Wednesday afternoon....

Dismissed at longshot odds after drawing in from the also-eligible list, Libertyrun (Runhappy) sprinted clear in the final furlong to get his sire (by Super Saver) off the mark in Wednesday's fourth race at Indiana Grand. Debuting in the colors of owner/breeder Jim McIngvale as a 23-1 gamble, the Louisiana-bred jumped well and put himself right into the mix, settling about four off the inside and just off the pace into the turn. Between rivals on the bend, Libertyrun was confidently handled by Miguel Mena, responded when set down in...

Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), heroine of Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee S. Mar. 7, is the clear-cut horse to beat in Wednesday evening's GIII Indiana Oaks. The bay followed a well-beaten third behind division heavyweights Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Venetian Harbor (Munnings) in the GIII Fantasy S. May 1 with a powerful optional claiming tally at Churchill Downs last time June 5. "She ran a huge one," trainer Brad Cox said. "We were looking just to get a race in her between the Fantasy and wherever we ended up, which ended up being the...

Baytown Bear (Upstart) cruised to a 9 3/4-length victory to become the first winner for his freshman sire Upstart (Flatter) at Indiana Grand Tuesday. The gray gelding, who RNA'd for $9,500 as a Keeneland September yearling, was well-beaten in a pair of efforts sprinting at Churchill Downs, over the main track May 22 and over the turf June 5, and was coming off a fourth-place effort going 5 1/2 furlongs over the dirt in Louisville June 12. Sent off the 9-5 second choice in this stretch-out to a mile, Baytown...

In an effort to assist the elevated requests for food and non-perishable items, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino has made a donation of $4,000 to Shelby County Pantry Pals. "This donation is greatly appreciated," said Greg Gerline, president of Shelby County Pantry Pals. "These funds will be designated for food purchases for our seven food pantries in Shelby County." Elena Lisle, vice president of marketing at Indiana Grand, learned about the significant increase in requests for food. She coordinated the donation with Indiana Grand's Community Impact team to assist the...

In conjunction with the State of Indiana and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing & Casino in Shelbyville will allow for live racing beginning July 4. Simulcast operations will also resume at both properties. Both Hoosier and Indiana Grand will operate at reduced capacity, in accordance with State of Indiana and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission guidelines. All guests will be strongly encouraged to wear face masks in all locations, and will be required to wear face masks while...