Betcha scores in ITOBA Stallion Season Auction Fillies Stakes

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2020) – Betcha and Rocco Bowen made it a gate to wire effort to score their first stakes victory in the seventh running of the $75,000 ITOBA Stallion Season Fillies Stakes Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Indiana Grand. The duo covered the one-mile distance in a time of 1:41.49.

Starting from the outside post seven, Bowen had Betcha ready to leave the gate for good positioning, but the game plan wasn’t to be on the lead. That scenario just sort of happened, so Bowen adapted the early strategy to the top spot.

“I was hoping not to be on the lead today,” said Bowen. “Actually, I talked to my brother in Barbados 20 minutes before the race and he told me not to be on the lead. He’s 40,000 miles away and I’m sure at the half he was thinking I never listen to him.”

Elusive Justice and DeShawn Parker were on the outside of Carmella Key and Jermaine Bridgmohan, who also used early speed heading around the first turn. Elusive Justice backed off down the backside as Betcha and Bowen continued to lead the way.

“When we got on the backside, the pace wasn’t too quick,” added Bowen. “So, I figured we better step it up at the half mile. I called on her and she was ready to fire. At that point, I was just a pilot. Mr. Genaro (Garcia) is such a smart guy. He knew what he had today.”

In the turn, Elusive Justice came back to life to get involved in the mix, moving three-wide for positioning in the stretch. It appeared at first, she would move right on by, but Betcha dug in gamely all the way to the wire, winning the head bob by a nose over Elusive Justice. Carmella Key rounded out the top three.

Bred by Elliott Ventures of Brookston, Ind., Betcha paid $9.40, $5.20, $3.40 across the board. She improved her career earnings to more than $130,000 with the win for Bruce Murphy and Southwest Racing Stables Inc. in her third career win. Garcia trains the sophomore filly by Sangaree.

Garcia is currently leading the trainer standings for the fourth straight year. Betcha was a yearling purchase from the 2018 Indiana Mixed Fall Sale for a price tag of $7,200. Bowen has been aboard for all five of her starts in 2020. This race marked her first try in stakes action this season.

“I feel relieved to get my first stakes win in Indiana,” added Bowen, who relocated from Washington State this season to Indiana Grand. “It has not been for a lack of trying, but it feels good to get this stakes win, especially for Mr. Genaro (Garcia). He has supported me the whole way. I thank him and Mr. Bruce (Murphy) for all the opportunities they have given me this year.”

Garcia, who races under the stable name of Southwest Racing Stables Inc., and Murphy, have built a solid stable for racing in Indiana. They were the leading owner of the 2018 and 2019 meets with 25 and 28 wins, respectively. The partnership is constantly adding horses to their barn and often obtain young horses at the sales.

“We actually bought this filly together out of the sale,” said Murphy referring to Garcia. “We really liked her because she was big and stout. She has nice conformation and you could tell she had a good mind.”

In addition to their share of the $75,000 purse money, Garcia and Murphy received a bonus check of $3,000 from the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) for winning the stakes race with Indiana sired Betcha.

“We published this incentive about four years ago, and a horse has to be sired to be eligible for the bonus,” said Leigh Ann Hopper, executive secretary of ITOBA. “Nominations are always due November 1, and the auction is always in January for this program. We will be doing this each year for a while, so it’s a great time to get involved.”

The ITOBA Stallion Season Auction Stakes bonus is available to the owner of an Indiana sired horse finishing in the top three of the stakes. First place receives $3,000 with second place receiving $1,500 and third place $500. A total of $10,000 for the two races is earmarked as bonus money and is a benefit of ITOBA membership, which is required for nominations and stakes race participation. More information is available through the website at www.itoba.com.

Photos by Coady Photography