SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, June 22, 2022) – Climber reached new heights Wednesday, June 22 at Horseshoe Indianapolis with an impressive win in the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes for the fillies. Guided by Emmanuel Esquivel, the filly is now a stakes winner in her young racing career.
Starting from post seven left Climber with an outside position early as Speedy Delivery and Gage Holmes secured the top spot along the inside followed closely by Holy Justice and Jose Riquelme in the stalking position. Esquivel kept Climber on the outside three-wide heading down the backstretch under a firm hold.
Around the turn, Esquivel let Climber out a notch, and she responded, so he let her have her head some more and she exploded to the front. Down the stretch, Climber was all alone as she rallied home to a five and one-half length victory in the stakes in her eighth career start. Louder Than Words and Sammy Bermudez moved in for second over Holy Justice for third.
“She runs with her head up going long,” said Esquivel. “When she runs short, you can give her head to her early but going long, I had to take hold of her, but I could feel her relaxed under me down the backside. Plus, she had horses right beside her. Last time, I thought I gave her head too her too soon, but she responded well tonight, and she galloped out nice too.”
Overlooked by the betting public, Climber paid $25.20 for the win. The Indiana bred daughter of Divining Rod is owned by Bruce Murphy and Southwest Racing Stables, managed by Genaro Garcia. Garcia also trains the filly bred by Dawn Martin.
“She’s a nice three-year-old filly that needs to go long, that’s how she’s bred,” said Garcia. “The further she goes the better she feels. I’m real excited about her after this race. She’s easy to take care of too in the barn. She’s the type of horse that everybody likes to take care of. They’ve done a great job with her too in the barn taking care of her.”
Climber has now won two of her last three starts and her second overall in four outings for 2022. She has not finished worse than second this season before taking a step up into her first stakes attempt. Climber increased her career earnings tally to more than $100,000 with the win.
Photos by Coady Photography
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