SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (May 18, 2022) – Stitched was on a mission in the 17th running of the $150,000 Caesars Stakes, a Listed event, Wednesday, May 18. The three-year-old colt led from gate to wire with an impressive win in the event marking Indiana’s richest turf race of the season at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Stitched obeyed orders from jockey Florent Geroux and was out of the gate quickly in the field reduced to five on the rain-soaked turf. The son of Mizzen Mast was on top of the petite field before they passed the tote board the first time, leaving Setna the Wise and Umberto Rispoli to their outside. Stitched continued his dominance down the backstretch as the field of five remained compact. Around the turn, Geroux prepared the sophomore for a big stretch run, and he got it. As soon as he was in the straight away, Stitched took off with a big sprint to the wire, striding out to a two and three-quarter length advantage at the wire. Tommy Bee and Irad Ortiz Jr. finished second over Setna the Wise.
Stitched was the second choice of the field, paying $10.00 for the win. He is trained by Greg Foley and owned by Nathan McCauley, Michael Olszewski and William Minton. McCauley also bred the colt, who is now four for seven in his career and three for three on a wet turf surface.
“This homebred colt is from a mare we raised named Walking Miracle,” explained McCauley. “We named her that because she had a paddock injury that prevented her from being a racehorse, but she was able to be a brood mare. This is her second foal. There’s nothing better than having a win with a homebred.”
Stitched was making his first start among stakes company. He came into the race off an impressive win at Churchill Downs in his last outing, placing him on a small two-race win streak for Foley. Foley is no stranger to the Caesars Stakes. He won the stakes under the name of Oliver Stakes the first year it was held over the turf in 2004 with a three-year-old filly named Rich Find. Stitched seems to be following the same regime as his racing career is just getting underway. He made his first start in December at the Fair Grounds.
“This colt has come a long way,” said Travis Foley, Greg’s son who serves as the assistant trainer. “I told the owners after his first start wasn’t so great that there’s talent there, I swear. He gets better and better every day. We were watching the weather all day yesterday and hoping it stayed on the turf. We are blessed with this win today.”
Foley, who is based in Kentucky, has been a longtime participant on the Indiana circuit. He has raced every year since the inaugural season at Hoosier Park in 1995. A multiple stakes winning trainer in Indiana, Foley has won 46 races in 20 years of action at Horseshoe Indianapolis with limited starts.
Caesars Stakes Day is also paired with Empire of Hope, a Caesars Entertainment Racing initiative to bring funding and awareness to racehorse aftercare programs. Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, made a presentation earlier in the day showing a total of $30,240 that has been earmarked to various organizations this season in their work to assist retired racehorses after their racing careers have completed. “Parade of Champions” is also held to showcase pony horses and outriding horses who have found second careers on the track. Due to rain, the event was postponed to a later date.
Photos by Coady Photography
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