SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022) – Climber has been superb all season at Horseshoe Indianapolis and was favored to win the 26th running of the $150,000 Cardinal Stakes Wednesday, Oct. 5. She did not disappoint, turning in a commanding effort to score the win, third stakes victory of 2022.
Guided by Emmanuel Esquivel, Climber got away third as Anna’s Tribute and Orlando Mojica and Last Hurrah and Kendall Sterritt took over the top two spots. Climber was under a tight hold from Esquivel to wait patiently through the first half of the race.
Heading into the final turn, Climber began to make her move and by mid turn, she was in control of the lead and scooted away from the field of nine. Esquivel asked her a couple times to accelerate and that was all he needed to move down the stretch as the clear winner by two lengths. Bumble of Love and Rodney Prescott moved up late for second over Diamond Solitaire and DeShawn Parker, who held their ground between horses for third.
“We got a perfect trip today and she put me in the race,” said Esquivel. “She broke sharp, like she always does. She gets a little more aggressive heading into the second turn, and I actually thought she moved a little too early, but she handled it well and finished really strong.”
Climber paid $5.00 for the win. The Divining Rod filly earned her fifth win of 2022 in nine starts. She now has more than $320,000 on her card for owners Bruce Murphy and Genaro Garcia’s Southwest Racing Stable. Garcia also trains the talented sophomore, and it was the third win on the program for him.
“She likes two turns, and we thought she’d like the grass, but she didn’t,” said Murphy. “I’m very thankful for Genaro and his crew and to Manny. They’ve done a great job with her. I’m also very thankful for Dawn Martin (the breeder). She has bred some really nice horses here in Indiana. And this is a great time to come out to the ITOBA Sale on Oct. 15. There will be some nice horses in that sale.”
Murphy, who is a board member of ITOBA (Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association) is referring to the annual ITOBA Mixed Sale set for Saturday, Oct. 15. The sale will be held in the receiving barn on the backstretch at Horseshoe Indianapolis and begins at 1 p.m. The sale will offer 81 yearlings, representing some of the top breeding operations in the state. Many of the yearlings offered in the sale are eligible for added bonuses and special stakes as they move toward their racing careers in Indiana.
“It’s a perfect time to get involved in racing in Indiana,” added Murphy.
photos by Coady Photography
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