Hendy Woods solid in Indiana Grand Stakes

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 12, 2020) – The public might have overlooked Hendy Woods in the 12th running of the $150,000 Indiana Grand Stakes Wednesday, Aug. 12, but her connections knew what she could do. The three-year-old homebred filly by Uncle Mo timed the finish just right to score the win in the final strides of the Listed event.

Hendy Woods was not lucky at the draw. She drew post 10 in the 12-horse lineup and was forced to move toward the back of the pack as Evil Lyn and Jose Montano jumped out to a commanding lead early on. Around the final turn of the one-mile turf event, jockey Declan Carroll began to make his move toward the leaders aboard Hendy Woods, making up just enough ground in the turn for good positioning in the stretch drive.

A couple of taps of encouragement was all Hendy Woods needed to get into gear, rolling toward Evil Lyn and Pranked, ridden by Jermaine Bridgmohan. Both were battling for the title on the front. Hendy Woods dug in gamely and swooped in for the win by a neck over Pranked in a three-way photo with Evil Lyn, who finished a head behind Pranked for third.

“She’s the nervous type, that’s why in the post parade I take my feet out of the irons and let my legs down,” said Carroll. “We thought she would be really good in this race. In the Regret (Stakes) in her last start, she had a rough trip and had post 13 of 13. She ran all the way through last time and was just beaten four lengths. We knew she wouldn’t get the respect she deserved today, but that’s okay. She got the job done. She has a very bright future ahead of her.”

Owned by Stonestreet Stables, Hendy Woods is now three for four in her brief career. She recorded the win in 1:39.82 and was an upset winner, paying $19.80, $9.00, $8.40 across the board. Carroll has now guided her to two of her trips to the winner’s circle, also picking up a win over the turf earlier this year at Fair Grounds for the Mark Casse Stable. Carroll’s father, David Carroll, serves as the assistant trainer for Casse and was trackside to greet his son and Hendy Woods after their stakes victory.

“This filly broke her maiden her first start out, so she didn’t get much racing experience against maidens because she had to jump right in against winners, but she won that too,” said David Carroll. “She really hasn’t had a chance to learn, and she was a little green down the stretch today. But she will improve with time and experience.”

Carroll oversees the Casse string at Churchill Downs. The native of Ireland has been stateside for 27 years and currently oversees the operation of 36 horses in Kentucky.

Hendy Woods increased her career bankroll to $139,000 with the win. It was the first stakes victory for the filly who has run over the turf in all four of her career starts. The Kentucky-bred filly was unraced at two.

Photos by Coady Photography