Peace Achieved favored in Caesars Stakes

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 7, 2020) –Peace Achieved will make his return to the racetrack Wednesday, Aug. 12 in the 15th running of the $150,000-guaranteed Caesars Stakes, a Listed event at Indiana Grand. The three-year-old son of Declaration of War hasn’t raced since early November in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita, but with three wins in six career starts, he has been tagged as the favorite in the full field of 12 for Indiana’s biggest turf race of the year.

Peace Achieved was purchased by Joe Minor’s JSM Equine as a yearling for $160,000. Since starting his career at Churchill Downs, all six of his outings have been over the turf with a win in the Grade 3 $250,000 Bourbon Stakes last fall at Keeneland. Declan Carroll has picked up the mount aboard the Kentucky-bred and will ride for trainer Mark Casse. He begins from post five at odds of 3-1.

Joining Peace Achieved as a favorite in the field is Billy Batts from the Steve Asmussen Stable. The sophomore son of City Zip last raced over the dirt in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in early July where he finished third. Earlier this season, he competed in the $800,000 Samba Saudi Derby Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia. Owned by Sharif Mohammed Alhairi, Billy Batts also competed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last fall, finishing second. He starts from post four at odds of 7-2 with Santo Sanjur aboard for the first time.

The full field for the Caesars Stakes, in post position order with jockey and odds includes: High Holy (Tommy Pompell, 20-1); Fancy Liquor (DeShawn Parker, 4-1); Andesite (Rodney Prescott, 15-1); Billy Batts (Santo Sanjur, 7-2); Peace Achieved (Declan Carroll, 3-1); Summer Assault (Fernando De La Cruz, 9-2); Juggernaut (Jermaine Bridgmohan, 15-1); Kineos (Alex Achard, 15-1); Relentless Dancer (Emmanuel Esquivel, 15-1); Sunsation (Malcolm Franklin, 12-1); New Eagle (Jose Montano, 30-1); and Mo Hawk (Robby Albarado, 30-1). Post time for the Caesars Stakes, carded as the eighth race, is approximately 5:36 p.m.

Caesars Stakes Day will be complemented by the 12th running of the $150,000 Indiana Grand for three-year-old fillies over the turf. The Listed event is headed by In Good Spirits from post one. The Ghostzapper filly was a third-place finisher in her last start, the Grade 3 $100,000 Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs. Santo Sanjur has been named to ride the early morning line favorite for Trainer Al Stall Jr. at odds of 7-2.

A special $100,000 guaranteed Pick 5 will be included on the competitive card. The Pick 5, which offers a low takeout of 11.99 percent, begins in Race 5 and will include the Indiana Grand Stakes in Race 7 and the Caesars Stakes in Race 8. First post for the afternoon program is 2:20 p.m.

Photo of Peace Achieved from Kentucky Downs by Coady Photography