Indiana First Lady, Governor's Stakes set

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 21, 2020) – Some of state’s top three-year-olds will be back in action for the 18th running of the $100,000 Indiana First Lady and the 17th running of the $100,000 Governor’s Stakes Wednesday, Aug. 26. The races are slated as the sixth and eight on the program, which begins at 2:20 p.m. at Indiana Grand.

Seven Indiana bred fillies will line up for the Indiana First Lady Stakes, one of the oldest stakes originating at Indiana Grand. Copper Nickel and Rodney Prescott have been selected as the early morning line favorite from post two. The sophomore filly by Stroll was a winner two starts back in the $75,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Fillies Stakes for owners Doris Book, Mike South and Frank Brown. Mike Lauer trains the filly who moves back to the dirt in the one mile, 70-yard event at even odds.

Joining Copper Nickel as a leading contender for the title in the Indiana First Lady Stakes is Nothingbutflowers from the Jeff Greenhill Stable. The Violence filly, owned and bred by Dennis Farkas, is currently on a two-race win streak, scoring the title in her last start in the $75,000 Ellens Lucky Star Stakes over the turf. DeShawn Parker, the track’s leading rider, has been named aboard the filly who begins from post four at odds of 3-1.

The entire field, in post position order with jockey and odds, for the Indiana First Lady Stakes includes: Shes the Cause (Santo Sanjur, 20-1); Copper Nickel (Rodney Prescott, 1-1); Mintchocolatechip (Tommy Pompell, 10-1); Nothingbutflowers (DeShawn Parker, 3-1); Wellington Wonder (Alex Achard, 12-1); Dontyouremember (Jermain Bridgmohan, 20-1); and Serena Beck (Emmanuel Esquivel, 4-1).

The three-year-old Indiana bred colts and geldings will be featured in the Governor’s Stake in race eight, running over the dirt course at one mile, 70 yards. Two Last Words is the early morning line favorite at odds of 9-5 from post one. The Commissioner gelding was a winner two starts back in the $75,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes for owner Deann Baer and trainer Tim Glyshaw. He comes into the race with three wins in four starts this year. Fernando De La Cruz gets the call aboard Two Last Words.

Mai Tai’s Gem and Sanjur will seek to turn the tables on Two Last Words as the second choice on the morning line. The Gemologist gelding finished a head back in second in the Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes. Sanjur has been named to ride the Antonio Duran-trained sophomore for Rancho Monarca Stable from post four at odds of 5-2.

An interesting addition to the field is Flatter Hymn from the Jeff Runco Stable. Shipping in from Charles Town, the Flat Out gelding was unraced last year at two but has come on strong as a three-year-old, winning both of his starts at Charles Town. DeShawn Parker picks up the mount aboard Flatter Hymn, who was a $30,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig Tipton Sales. Flatter Hymn will seek to keep his record perfect in his third outing from post nine at odds of 8-1.

The entire field, in post position order with jockey and odds, for the Governor’s Stakes includes: Two Last Words (Fernando De La Cruz, 9-5); Idea Man (Albin Jimenez, 12-1); Chipofftheoldblock (Alex Achard, 8-1); Mai Tai’s Gem (Santo Sanjur, 5-2); Strong Tide (Rodney Prescott, 7-2); Cougartown Blues (Isaiah Wiseman, 30-1); Starspangledxpress (Sammy Bermudez, 30-1); Jingle (Emmanuel Esquivel, 20-1); and Flatter Hymn (DeShawn Parker, 8-1).

Photos by Coady Photography