Canadian-bred INTERSTATEDAYDREAM, an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico in May, is the 9-5 favorite in the Indiana Oaks’ field of eight 3-year-old fillies at Horseshoe Indianapolis Racetrack on July 9.
It had been reported that Flurry Racing Stables’ daughter of Classic Empire – Babcock by Uncle Mo, trained by Brad Cox, was to be pointed to the July 24 Woodbine Oaks following her Pimlico victory, but clearly that idea has been pushed aside.
“We thought this would be a race where we wouldn’t have to ship her a long way, and hopefully add another graded stakes to her resumé,” said Cox. “She’s a good filly, and hopefully this is the next step toward bigger and better things down the road.”
The daughter of Classic Empire has won three of five starts including the Black-Eyed Susan with her defeats a second in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Adirondack last year behind the multiple stakes-winner Wicked Halo and a third in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Ashland Stakes won by Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes runner-up Nest.
“She’s a nice filly obviously,” Cox said. “She showed a lot off the layoff this winter, ran a good race in the Ashland. I thought we did the right thing in not pressing forward to the Kentucky Oaks and letting her come around. It was six weeks to the Black-Eyed Susan, which I think came up a really, really good race. She was up close, did a lot of the running, stayed on well, came out of it in good order.
Juddmonte Farms’ Patna, also trained by Cox, makes her first start around two turns in the Indiana Oaks. With Geroux riding Interstatedaydream, Horseshoe Indianapolis meet-leader Marcelino Pedroza picks up the mount.
“I kind of thought she might be a two-turn horse,” Cox said. “This is a great opportunity to give her a chance. I’m very happy with the way she’s been training. She’s a Juddmonte filly; they all have pedigrees. So obviously a placing would be huge for her and her family.”
-with files from Jennie Rees for Horseshoe Indianapolis Racetrack
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