Hot Middles is back in the Rick Moore Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis

After coming up just a little bit short last time out to snap a four-race win streak, Hot Middles was on fire Wednesday to score the victory in the third running of the $55,000 Rick Moore Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The filly was paired with jockey Hannah Leahey, who has ridden her in all 21 of her career starts.

Hot Middles was in a petite field of five for the Rick Moore Handicap and had to come into the race with a different game plan. Generally, the four-year-old chestnut filly closes in during the latter parts of a race, but this time, she was forwardly placed right out of the starting gate.

The Kid Pataky, who snapped her win streak last time out, was one of the fillies in the field and is known for her great gate speed. She utilized it early from the gate for Sammy Bermudez and was leading the field in the first few strides.

Hot Middles sat just off The Kid Pataky along the inside with Ekati Flatter and Fernando De La Cruz tracking the progress of the top two on the outside. Heading into the final turn, it appeared Hot Middles was not going to have the stamina for the final stages as The Kid Pataky continued to hold onto the lead and Ekati Flatter got past Hot Middles, who stayed right on the rail around the only turn of the six furlong race.

At the head of the lane, it was a different story. Hot Middles had saved ground along the inside and was back in contention for the lead, matching The Kid Pataky stride for stride at the head of the lane. As the two females continued down the lane, Hot Middles found another gear and moved out for the win, a length and a half ahead of The Kid Pataky, who was well ahead of the rest of the field. Bits of Candy and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. moved up to finish third.

Hot Middles paid $4.40 as the second choice in the field. The Klimt four-year-old filly is now five for seven this season and has not been off the board all year. Tianna Richardville bred the filly, who is owned by her Thirstyacres Racing. Richardville has trained the filly her entire career, which now spans three years with nine career wins and more than $382,000.

“There were a few times during the race that I was nervous because we had to change her style of running today,” noted Richardville, who is among the track’s all-time top 20 leading trainers. “The speed has been so good, and we knew The Kid Pataky would be hard to catch if we let her get out and we were very far back. We talked about it and decided to change up her style.”

Leahey, who was the track’s leading apprentice jockey in 2023, immediately bonded with Hot Middles when Richardville first brought her in to begin her racing career at the age of two. The filly, who at times can be hard to deal with on the track, responded to Leahey in a special way. It is a true partnership between Leahey, Richardville, and Hot Middles and one that has now produced nine career wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“I’m absolutely thrilled because that is not her speed preference,” added Leahey. “She prefers not to be rushed. Last time, we were a little too far back. I was expecting to really help her out of the gate, but she delivered through and through today. I kept telling her (Hot Middles) in the paddock, ‘You are speed.’ I think it worked.”

Hot Middles adds her name to the list of winners in the third running of the Rick Moore Handicap, named in honor of longtime Indiana racetrack executive Rick Moore. He was joined by approximately 20 family and friends for the winner’s circle celebration.

Moore, was the general manager for more than 30 years at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, leading the team through numerous milestones that produced such big moments as the addition of casino gaming to the track, hosting the first ever Breeders Crown, and managing and introducing three racing breeds to Indiana as the first pari-mutuel track in the state.

Moore was inducted into the Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2025 and is a member of the Hall of Fame for the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana. The University of Kentucky graduate continues to be a trusted consultant with the Caesars Entertainment Racing team since his retirement.

“It’s a thrill to have your name associated with a race like this at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and I thank Eric Halstrom and Trent McIntosh for this honor,” said Moore, who lives in Fishers, Ind. “Having so many family members and friends and people I have worked with here truly made my day perfect. What a fun day it has been surrounded by all of these people who took time out of their day to join me for this race.”

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