Caesars Stakes draws 40 nominations

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (July 31, 2020) – A total of 40 three-year-olds have added their name to the nomination list for the $150,000 Caesars Stakes (Listed). Joining the $150,000 Indiana Grand Stakes (Listed) on the Wednesday, Aug. 12, the afternoon card marks the richest day of turf racing in the state of Indiana at Indiana Grand.

Heading the list of nominations for the Caesars Stakes are two familiar names, Major Fed and Necker Island. The sophomore colts finished second and third, respectively, in the Indiana Derby July 8 and have not started since that outing. Both Major Fed and Necker Island have not tried the turf in previous starts.

Joining Major Fed and Necker Island on the nomination list is Field Pass from the Mike Maker Stable. The Lemon Drop Kid grey colt has won his last two outings, including the Grade 3 $100,000 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in mid-July. Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, Field Pass has the most career earnings of those nominated to the Caesars Stakes with more than $418,000 accumulated over two years of competition.

Billy Batts has also been nominated to the Caesars Stakes. The Steve Asmussen-trained son of City Zip finished second last fall in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Billy Batts most recent outing was a third-place finish in the $100,000 Iowa Derby over the dirt. Both of his career wins have been over the turf.

The Indiana Grand Stakes for sophomore fillies has drawn 50 nominations. A total of 11 on the list are Graded Stakes placed, including Alms from the Michael Stidham Stable. A third-place finisher in her last start in the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland, the City Zip filly has in excess of $237,000 in career earnings for Godolphin LLC. Alms is four for six lifetime over the turf.

An interesting nomination was made to the Indiana Grand Stakes by Trainer Arnaud Delacour. Secret Time, a German-bred daughter of Camacho, made her last start June 19 at Chantilly Racecourse in France. A start in the Indiana Grand Stakes would mark her U.S. racing debut.

The 2020 Caesars Stakes will mark the 15th running of the event. Post time for Caesars Stakes Day is set for 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12.