Hot Middles scores third straight win at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Hot Middles is quickly becoming a fan favorite and the winner’s circle celebrations are getting a little bigger these days. The four-year-old Indiana bred filly won her third straight race Wednesday in the $100,000 Checkered Flag Handicap.

With regular rider Hannah Leahey aboard, Hot Middles (photo) added an extra boost to an already great week for owner-trainer Tianna Richardville.

Hot Middles began from post four and sat in mid pack as Bits of Candy and Irving Moncada sped to the lead from the outside, joined by The Mid Pataky and Sammy Bermudez to their outside. The top two led the way into the turn. A horse was on the move in a big way through traffic and that horse was Hot Middles, who came into the mix midway through the turn.

In the stretch, Hot Middles went around her opponents like a locomotive. Her ears were up and she was enjoying the journey with Leahey through the wire by a two-length advantage. Three Coats and Santo Sanjur finished second over The Kid Pataky for third.

“We have been so incredibly lucky,” added Leahey. “No matter what post position we have, it just opens up for us. I have to have the horse obviously to get there, but I also have to have a horse that will take you to that spot. Tianna (Richardville) and I have such great communication, and it makes getting her ready to race so on point.”

Hot Middles was the hot favorite, paying $5.00 for the win. It was her third straight victory this year and her second premier racing victory, winning the Corningstone Handicap in her last start a little more than a month ago. Overall, she has won seven races in 18 career starts and has earned in excess of $300,000 for Tianna Richardville’s Thirstyacres Racing.

Richardville bred and raised the chestnut filly and has been with her since day one.

“It is insane to see a horse go from two to three (years old) but even more so when they go from three to four,” said Leahey who has ridden Hot Middles in each of her 18 career starts over the past three years. “It took a little longer than we originally thought but she has developed into such a great racehorse.”

Richardville, who trains the filly, admits she has become a big part of her stable this year. The win extended the excellent work week for the trainer, who had a training double the day before.

“Hannah (Leahey) has so much confidence in her, much more than I do,” explained Richardville, who is a graduate of Ball State University and now owns a breeding farm in Shelbyville, Ind. “She knows her like nobody else. I told her in the paddock, this race was not just for me, it was for America.”

Richardville was referring to the World Jockey Challenge which was going on during the day. Jockeys earn points from their top three finishes for their home countries. Leahey (photo) just added another five points to Team USA with the win aboard Hot Middles.

“She (Hot Middles) has been training better than ever,” added Leahey. “In the mornings, she is not easy to ride. In fact, Tianna (Richardville) doesn’t watch her. If you watch her, she is so lazy, and then she will switch it up and jump around, and then she is back to going slow. Rodney Prescott just told me the other day, ‘she doesn’t look fun to ride at all.’ But during a race, she is focused and she always finishes with her ears up.”

Richardville watched from the sidelines with cautious optimism. She knows Hot Middles can close with a rush, but the time between races was a little longer than normal. However, when she saw her horse beginning to move, caution quickly vanished.

“The only concern I had was there was a little more time in between her races this time and she really is better when she races back quicker,” explained Richardville. “She is not a great worker by herself, and I don’t want to put another horse with her to work because she gets too aggressive, so there was some concern she might not be as fit since she had not raced in more than a month. But she was obviously ready today. When I started seeing her move (around the turn), I got pretty excited.”

Leahey and Hot Middles returned with dirt on their face to the winner’s circle to a large crowd of fans. She has become a crowd favorite at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The filly was obviously not bothered by a little excess dirt kicked up as they trailed horses early on. She is definitely a more polished horse this year.

“It helped today because it was a little cooler too,” added Richardville. “We had a bump in the road last year because when it got so hot in the summer, she (Hot Middles) would get heat stroke. But she has bounced back great this year. I’m just so proud and excited she’s racing so well.”

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