Alvarado gets rail trip as Bendoog takes Schaefer at Horseshoe Indianapolis

The 7-year-old Bendoog rode the rail to his first stakes victory, outfinishing Gould’s Gold by 2 1/2 lengths to take Saturday’s $101,850 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“I just think today we got to stay on the rail,” said winning jockey Junior Alvarado. “I think that’s where he wants to be. He’s a horse that has a different bit; I’ve never ridden a horse with that bit. He can lug in terribly. He just wants to be on the rail. But he’s a closer, so sometimes you have a lot of traffic on the rail and horses in front and you have to let him out and then you have to fight him a little bit. Today, everything worked out. We stayed on the rail and everything opened up there and we got through it. And that’s what he wants to do.”

Alvarado had Bendoog in fourth early on in the field of five older horses, moving up on the far turn to run down early pacesetter First Division from the inside. Gould’s Gold and jockey Luis Saez made a move on the outside to pull alongside, with Gould’s Gold turning his head to his left to try to savage (bite) Bendoog. But the winner went on about his business unperturbed, covering a mile and 70 yards in 1:39.44. The fractions were 23.29 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 46.53 for the half, 1:09.98 for six furlongs and 1:34.83 for the mile.

“He was moving beautifully, and I still hadn’t asked for his best when I was getting close to the horse in front,” Alvarado said. “I was just hoping (the rail) didn’t close by the time I got there. He picked it up very quickly.”

Bendoog paid $5.40 to win as the second choice. The Kentucky-bred son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner now is 7-12-5 in 29 starts for earnings of $1,113,476 with the $61,110 payday.

First Division weakened to third, followed by favored Instant Replay and Woodcourt, who had pressed the early pace. Fountain Run, C.J.’s Storm, Encino and Touch of Destiny were scratched.

Bendoog is owned by Arkansas automobile magnate Frank Fletcher in partnership with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Fletcher and Mott acquired Bendoog privately in early 2025. The horse made his first 10 starts in Dubai before being sent to Mott in late 2023.

“I’m very happy for Mr. Fletcher,” said Kenny McCarthy, Mott’s assistant trainer at Churchill Downs. “He stepped up and bought this horse, along with Bill, and this horse has just been a hard-knocking horse. Very close every single time we lead him over here. Just glad today was his day. Neat horse. He just likes to drop back and come with one big run at the end. Sometimes he doesn’t quit make it, but today he did. He always tries.”

Alvarado is Mott’s go-to rider, the two teaming with 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner and Horse of the Year Sovereignty and other champions. Asked if there was any extra pressure because Mott was Bendoog’s co-owner, the jockey said with a laugh, “There’s always a little extra pressure. Bill said to me, ‘You know, I’m the owner, so you better know what you’re doing out there.’”