It's Krunch time in Merrillville Stakes

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 7, 2020) – Krunch has just been biding her time. The four-year-old daughter of Jimmy Creed finally got her chance to shine in the 26th running of the $75,000 Merrillville Stakes Wed. Oct. 7 at Indiana Grand. The race joins the Indiana Derby as the oldest pari-mutuel stakes race in the state of Indiana, originating at Hoosier Park during the inaugural season in 1995 and later moved to Indiana Grand in 2013 when the state went to one breed, one track.

Starting from post two, Krunch and jockey Santo Sanjur had the perfect opportunity to leave the gate on a mission and get good early positioning. It was no secret that Ever Wonder and Eddie Perez would scoot out for the early lead with their speed out of the gate, giving Krunch perfect positioning early.

In the final turn of the six-furlong race, the late closers began to close in on the leaders, including heavily favored Piedi Bianchi and Fernando De La Cruz. But in the stretch, Krunch had another gear to throw into the race, and she pulled away from the field for a four and one-quarter length advantage at the wire. Piedi Bianchi finished second over Ever Wonder, who held steady along the inside for third.

Owned by Spiess Stable and Randy Klopp, Krunch earned her first career stakes victory in the Merrillville. It marked her second win of the year in her third outing and she is now five for eight in her brief career. Her career bankroll was just boosted over the $150,000 earnings mark, all recorded at Indiana Grand.

“Roger (Spiess) actually bought her as a weanling,” said Klopp, who handles the training duties for Krunch. “Roger and I don’t start a lot of our two-year-olds because a lot of times, they are not as good at three. Last year, she got injured on the turf, so we stopped with her in August. She’s been one that Santo (Sanjur) has liked ever since he started getting on her as a two-year-old. He’s done most of the work on this filly up to this point.”

Sanjur saw potential in Krunch early and had big plans for her when she started racing as a three-year-old. He was aboard for all three of her first starts, winning all three. However, when she was ready to race in stakes action, Sanjur experienced an injury midway through the season last year and had to watch from the sidelines.

“I told Randy (Klopp) when she was a two-year-old that this filly was gonna be a real good one,” said Sanjur. “She has always done everything right like she did today. She was ready today. I thought last time she needed that race, but today, she was ready to take off when she wanted to. I’m still really impressed with her.”

The first person associated with Krunch that had a good first impression was Spiess. A retired veterinarian from northwest Ohio, Spiess and Klopp have purchased a few horses from breeders Deann and Greg Baer over the years. When Krunch walked into the ring at Keeneland as a weanling, Spiess was ready to add her to his stable.

“I bought her on her looks and conformation,” said Spiess. “She went straight to our farm and stayed there until she was broke as a two-year-old. She has always been one of those at our farm that stood out.”

Spiess and Klopp have been in partnership for decades. Introduced through Klopp’s father, Walter Abner, they have teamed up for numerous wins in the state of Indiana. Krunch is the latest in a long line of stakes winners for the partnership. Spiess, who does raise a few of his own each year, currently has two brood mares at his farm and “a lot of young horses.”

Photos by Coady Photography