SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, July 9, 2022) – Trainer Bret Calhoun made the right call for Mr. Wireless in bringing last year’s Indiana Derby winner back to Horseshoe Indianapolis for Saturday’s $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes.
The result was a two-length victory over Helium, last year’s Tampa Bay Derby winner. The 4-year-old Mr. Wireless is believed to be the first Indiana Derby winner to return to take another stakes at the track.
The Indiana Derby was part of a roll that saw Mr. Wireless win four of five starts, the defeat a close second in the Texas Derby before the race at Horseshoe Indianapolis. His next start was victory in the West Virginia Derby before the Dialed In gelding finished fifth in the Oklahoma Derby, exiting that race with a minor leg injury.
In his first start in eight months, Mr. Wireless was sixth, beaten almost 10 lengths, in a Churchill Downs allowance race that actually left Calhoun encouraged.
“I thought it was a really good spot for him,” Calhoun said of the Schaefer. “I think the last race was strictly a prep race. Those one-turn miles, they run fast down the backside and he was pretty fresh. Hot fractions and just got tired. But I thought it was a sneaky-good race.”
Mr. Wireless was ridden in the Schaefer for the first time by local favorite DeShawn Parker, who earlier this meet earned his 6,000th career victory. Parker had Mr. Wireless in stalking position, splitting horses at the five-sixteenth pole and taking the lead rounding for home, drawing away from Helium and jockey Alex Achard.
“DeShawn did a great job positioning him,” Calhoun said. “The last race went a long ways toward getting him ready for this. I’m glad to see him come back. Sometimes you don’t know from 3 to 4 if they’re going to step up and be able to handle older horses. But this was a big step forward.
“I never hesitate to use DeShawn in any kind of race. He’s always there for you, if it’s a cheap horse or a top horse. I have total confidence in him…. I always thought DeShawn would fit this horse well. You know what? DeShawn fits most horses well. You don’t have to worry about him. He knows his way around the oval pretty good, every different kind of horse. He just always seems to have your horse in a good spot.
"I didn’t see the trouble in the first turn. He said he got in pretty good trouble. I just thought he made good decisions all the way around. Obviously, the horse was ready today. I’m happy to see him come back as a 4-year-old. I had this race dialed in for a long time. We know he likes it here, easy ship. Let him try to build his confidence back to where it was last year when he was winning all the time.”
Mr. Wireless toured a mile and 70 yards over a main track rated “good” in 1:41.31 and paid $7.80 to win as the second choice in the field of seven older horses. It was his fifth victory in nine starts, this one worth $58,800 to bring his bankroll to $742,867 for owners Jon Lapczenski and breeder John Kerber.
“He did it pretty easy,” Parker said. “He got in a little bit of trouble (on the first turn), but I got him straightened up and everything. He relaxed perfect, and when I asked him, he shot through that hole and just took off.
“I’ve had a lot of success with Bret. Every racetrack I go to, he gives me a winner. I love riding for him. He just basically said last time he was a little sharp; he doesn’t really have to be on the lead. He said there were some horses with speed in the race, he says ‘so just put him in a good position and let him do his thing.’”
Runnin’ Ray and jockey Jon Court were another 2 1/2 lengths back in third, followed by Spa City, favored South Bend, Endless Sunset, and early leader Thomas Shelby.
Calhoun doesn’t know what he’ll do next with Mr. Wireless. But one spot on the gelding’s 2023 dance card could be right back here, the trainer said.
“Yeah,” he said. “We know he likes it here at Horseshoe Indianapolis for sure.”
Photos by Coady Photography
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