Ekati Flatter, Sleepy win opening day handicaps at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Ekati Flatter was a repeat winner in the second running of the $55,000 Merrill C. Roberts Handicap Tuesday in Shelbyville at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The race was one of two $55,000 handicaps, joining the Brian Elmore Handicap won by Sleepy to kick off the 24^th season of Thoroughbred racing.

Ekati Flatter (main photo) teamed up with 2024 Leading Jockey Fernando De La Cruz for the premier race. They began from post six and were in the early mix of speed on the outside. She continued to be a factor through the only turn of the race.

In the stretch, she opened up by more than two lengths heading to the wire. Hot Middles and Hannah Leahey came off the pace and was closing in quickly at the finish but came up short by a half-length to Ekati Flatter, who earned her first win in her first start of 2026. Best Cupcake and Evin Roman finished third.

Despite being the defending champion, Ekati Flatter was a mild upset winner, paying $17.20 for the win. The six-year-old daughter of Tale of Ekati is owned by Spiess Stable and Randy Klopp. Returning Leading Trainer Randy Klopp trains the mare, who now has eight career wins and is closing in on $300,000 in earnings.

De La Cruz was back in the winner’s circle for his third win on the day in the second running of the $55,000 Brian Elmore Handicap to close out the Thoroughbred portion of the opening day program. Starting from post three, De La Cruz headed straight to the lead with the gelding and held their ground between horses.

They maintained their speed all the way to the wire, holding off defending Elmore Handicap champion Win Me Over and Santo Sanjur at the wire for the win by a neck. Chocolate Moose and Alberto Burgos, the horse and jockey depicted on the 2026 racing creative “From Gate to Glory” for Horseshoe Indianapolis, finished third.

Sleepy paid $8.60 for the win. The four-year-old son of Keen Ice is owned by Reese Ranch, who are also the owners of Cupid’s Runaway, the Horse of the Meet by wins for the past two seasons in Indiana. Sleepy completed last year’s season on a four-race win streak. His win in his first start of 2026 now makes it five in a row for the homebred, who is now six for 11 lifetime with earnings of more than $170,000.

Randy Klopp also trains Sleepy to sweep both handicaps on the day.

Total all-sources handle for the day exceeded $2.975 million compared to last year’s season opener when $2.60 million was wagered on the opening program.

Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues for the 24^th season with an abbreviated schedule in April, racing at 2:10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The full schedule returns in May, including racing on May 1 for Kentucky Oaks Day and May 2 for Kentucky Derby Day.

Both programs begin at 10:45 a.m.

The 24^th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing offers 123 days of action through Nov. 13.

For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

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