Hot Middles tops in $55,000 Corningstone Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis

There are several female Thoroughbreds that stand out in Horseshoe Indianapolis history. Corningstone just completed her racing career last fall as the state’s all-time richest Indiana bred.

It’s only fitting that a race named in her honor was won by a horse who has captured the hearts of many local racing fans. Hot Middles picked up the first title in the $55,000 Corningstone Handicap Wednesday during Caesars Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Hot Middles (main photo) was joined by Hannah Leahey, the only jockey to ever ride her. In fact, it’s notable that Leahey has been aboard her during training and races more than 500 times in her career. The jockey and horse fit well together, and it showed in the final stages of the Corningstone Handicap.

Hot Middles began from post two and got away in mid pack as Werk It Wendy and Evin Roman set the pace up front, tracked closely by Ekati Flatter and Fernando De La Cruz in the six-furlong sprint.

Around the final turn, Hot Middles was on the far outside and moving with authority. By the time the field entered the stretch, she had the advantage over her rivals.

Hot Middles then went to work, moving out to an open length advantage with her ears up like she was on a Sunday stroll. She was on cruise control by Leahey at the wire for the win by one and one-quarter lengths. Three Coats and Tyler Gaffalione closed from the back to finish second followed by Imagine the Moon and Rodney Prescott.

“Normally, when you see a horse put their ears up, I get worried they might lose focus and need some encouragement, but that is just Hot Middles,” said Leahey (photo). “That’s the way she races. Once she gets to the front she puts her ears up. She knows her job. She is such a blessing and super talented.”

Hot Middles, who has kicked off the 2026 racing season with two wins in three starts, returned $6.60 to her backers for the win. The four-year-old chestnut filly is owned by Thirstyacres Racing and trained by Tianna Richardville, longtime owner-trainer-breeder in the state.

She is by Klimt and was bred and raised by Richardville, who owns a farm just a few miles away from Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“Once we got her fit for racing, she really doesn’t need anything special,” said Richardville. “We just try to keep her happy. We have had some issues with her tying up (muscle cramps) but we just keep an eye on her and we are ready to adjust if needed. She likes everything her way, so in the mornings, we try to keep her schedule pretty regular. She goes out the same time every day and if she wants to stop and look around, you have to let her do it.”

Leahey, who is in the barn with her every day, added, “This is Hot Middles world, and we are just living in it.”

The win in the Corningstone was her sixth trip to the winner’s circle in a career that has netted more than $257,000 in earnings. She has turned in all 16 career starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

 “Hot Middles loves to make a big impression,” added Leahey. “When she trains, she can be tough and can be dramatic. Otherwise, she is low key in the barn and calm and collected. Tianna and I both have a special bond with her.”

$150,000 Cleopatra (BT)

How About Now and Axel Concepcion earned top billing in the $150,000 Cleopatra (BT) Wednesday. The sophomore filly rallied to an open length win in Indiana’s richest race over the turf.

The day brought in a record handle of more than $5.471 million, the most money wagered on a non-Indiana Derby racing program in 24-year history of racing.

How About Now (photo) began from post seven and was unhurried from the start in the one mile race over the turf. Resplendence and Alberto Burgos used their inside post to their advantage and set the tempo through the first three-quarters of the race.

Horses began to get into position in the final turn with Faye’s Gold and Jaime Torres sitting right outside Resplendence with Back Ring Buzz and Fernando De La Cruz inching up three wide.

In the stretch, the top three battled hard to the wire. It was How About Now who broke through horses on the inside with a rush and took over, striding out to a one and one-half length win at the wire. Faye’s Gold finished second in a three-horse photo over Soloist (Emmanuel Esquivel) and Resplendence.

“She (How About Now) broke well, and I just wanted to take my time,” noted Concepcion. “In the final turn, I asked her for speed, and she really picked it up and gave me a good turn of foot.”

How About Now paid $15.40 as a mild upset winner in the race. The Not This Time daughter is owned by breeders Summer Wind Farm of Kentucky. George “Rusty” Arnold II trains the filly, who is now two for four this season. It was her first premier racing victory for her connections as she more than doubled her career bankroll to more than $159,000.

Onesmoothoperator Handicap

Zolo and one of Indiana’s all-time leading jockeys, Rodney Prescott, made a solo appearance at the finish line Wednesday in the $55,000 Onesmoothoperator Handicap.

The race is named in honor of Indiana’s richest horse with more than $1 million in U.S. dollars on his card while primarily racing in Australia.

Zolo (photo) began from post five in the center of the pack and backed off the early pace as Slam Dunk Justice and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. took over from the outside. Race favorite Sleep and Fernando De La Cruz sat just to his outside with Mondavila and Alberto Burgos another lane out heading down the backstretch in the six-furlong sprint.

Horses remained bunched up around the turn and heading into the stretch, it was still anyone’s race. Prescott identified a lane along the inside and shot through with Zolo, moving out to a one and one-half length advantage at the wire well under wraps for the win. Slam Dunk Justice finished second in a photo with Latigo and Irving Moncada.

“I thought he would run well today,” noted Prescott. “I’ve been working him in the mornings, and I’ve been on him a lot, so I thought he would race well. Coming out of the gate, he broke well. The horses around us were all pretty tightly bunched, but it didn’t affect us at all. We just waited and we were just in the right place at the right time. The inside opened up and we got through for the win.”

Zolo was overlooked by the betting public, paying $45.40 for the win. It was the first win in the first start of the year for the veteran performer, who is owned by Katie and Tony Duran’s Rancho Monarca of Shelbyville.

Tony Duran trains the seven-year-old chestnut son of Commissioner, who earned his 11^th trip to the winner’s circle in the effort. The win also placed him over the $300,000 mark in career earnings. Ten of his wins have been at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The 24^th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse extends 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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