The Beauty's Tale scores in Florence Henderson Stakes

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 7, 2020) – The story behind The Beauty’s Tale just got a little sweeter. Claimed for $12,500 by her current connections, the four-year-old filly is now a stakes winner, scoring the win in the 17th running of the $75,000 Florence Henderson Stakes Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Indiana Grand.

A full field of 12 assembled for the one and one-sixteenth mile turf race in the Florence Henderson Stakes and the competition was fierce right out of the gate. Four horses were across the track through the first turn vying for the top spot with Magical Peapod and Albin Jimenez getting the edge along the inside, tracked closely by Blonde Moment and Rodney Prescott and Sister Gema and DeShawn Parker.

Still tightly bunched through the final turn, it was anybody’s race to win. Magical Peapod was holding her ground inside with Wondrshegotthunder and Fernando De La Cruz primed for the stretch drive as the race favorite. The Beauty’s Tale had also moved up to challenge. Timeless Rose and Santo Sanjur squeezed through along the inside through tight quarters and had the advantage at the wire but were placed back for interference late in the race. The Beauty’s Tale, who was not involved in the interference, moved up for the win with Marcelino Pedroza aboard. Wondrshegotthundr finished second followed by Magical Peapod for third.

The win was the second in four starts in 2020 for The Beauty’s Tale. She was claimed near the end of the season in 2019 and now has two straight wins for owners Jerry Carden and David Neiman’s Willowbrook Stables. Kim Hammond, Indiana Grand’s leading trainer this season, conditions the Tale of Ekati filly who moved over the $200,000 earnings mark with the win.

“When Kim came to us last year about claiming this filly, it was a no brainer,” said Carden, who is a retired IT manager for Charles Schwab. “It’s not the preferable way to get a win, but we will take it. It’s always a thrill to win a race, whether it’s a stakes race or a $5,000 claimer. We owe the success of this filly to Kim and her crew. They’ve done a great job with her.”

Carden has been an owner for Hammond for many years. He partners with Nieman’s Willowbrook Stables on many of the horses in the Hammond barn, and both owners are very invested in the Indiana racing program.

“I’ve been in the business over 30 years and 25 of those have been with Kim (Hammond),” said Niemann. “I’m always more than happy to invest in a horse like this when Kim suggests it. It’s not an easy business and not one for the faint of heart, but when it works out well such as it did on this horse, it makes it all worth it.”

Niemann, a native of Chicago, retired from sales several years ago. Because he had such an investment in so many horses in the Indiana racing program, he decided to move to Shelbyville.

“It just made sense for us to relocate to Shelbyville,” said Niemann. “Every year, after I retired, we would come down and rent a place. It was just time to buy a place and relocate here.”

Although Niemann may have an Indiana address now, one thing hasn’t changed, his love of the Chicago Cubs. He can easily be picked out at the races because he always has Cubs apparel on. Niemann is at the races daily, usually accompanied by Hammond.

“I’m tickled pink about this filly,” said Hammond, who is the all-time leading female trainer in Thoroughbred history with more than 2,300 career wins. “The filly (The Beauty’s Tale) ran a nice race, she just couldn’t quite get up there for the win. It’s nice to see her get this win for the owners.”

Photos by Coady Photography