Sir Bahjy rules in $250,000 Unreachable Star at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Sir Bahjy and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. came out the winners in a thrilling finish with horses all across the track at the finish of the $250,000 Unreachable Star Handicap.

The race was the final premier event for the Thoroughbred portion of the card Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, leading into the richest Quarter Horse program of all time on the last half of the event.

Sir Bahjy was not quick out of the gate in the one mile, 70-yard dash, but he made up for it in the latter stages. He sat in mid pack as Rapid Justice and Gabe Saez and Dr Alex is In and DeShawn Parker led the way through the first half of the race.

Coming out of the turn, Dr Alex is In was able to spin away from his opponents and get a two-length advantage heading down the lane. In the final strides, Terminally Handsom and Joe Ramos along with Sir Bahjy were leading the charge to overtake the leader.

 In the final stride, Sir Bahjy got the win by a head over Terminally Handsom. Gin and Whiskey and Sammy Bermudez rounded out the top three with a closing effort.

Sir Bahjy was the favorite, paying $7.60 for the win. The son of Bahjatty is a home bred raised by Bruce and Lori Murphy. The mare, Proud Dreamer, is also a graduate of the racing program at Horseshoe Indianapolis, winning a race in 2019 and accumulating earnings of more than $63,000 before heading to Murphy’s farm in Crawfordsville to become a brood mare.

The sophomore gelding is now owned by Southwest Racing Stables and Bruce and Lori Murphy. The Murphys also own the stallion, Bahjatty.

Governor Mike Braun and Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun were in attendance for Indiana Champions Day and helped present the trophy to the connections of Sir Bahjy.

The Unreachable Star Handicap is named in honor of multiple Indiana Horse of the Year Unreachable Star, who ran for trainer Tim Glyshaw and owners from Loosen Up Stable.

The Indiana bred earned more than $780,000 during his career with 17 wins as a multiple stakes winner.

$100,000 Crown Ambassador

Mister T and Mitchell Murrill (photo) delivered the final knockout in the 27^th running of the $100,000 Crown Ambassador.

A start from post nine did not deter Mister T from getting in the early mix from the starting gate in the six-furlong sprint. Mister T was joined on the inside by Q’s Topnotch and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. with Mr Sledge Hammer and Hannah Leahey on the outside. The top three put open lengths between themselves and the remainder of the field.

Around the final turn Mister T was asked for a quicker gear and he responded, taking the top spot at the head of the lane and moving out as the sole leader of the race.

In the stretch, Mister T was determined to get to the wire first. He pinned his ears and dug in gamely all the way to the finish line to win by two and three-quarter lengths over Mr Sledge Hammer.

Mister T paid $13.00 for the win. The freshman son of Sahara Sky is a homebred, for the Bailey Family consisting of FK and Justin Bailey. F.K. now owns the colt, who is two for three in his young career. His bankroll improved to $81,000 with his first premier racing victory.

$100,000 Indiana Stallion Fillies

Sahara Hottie and Santo Sanjur (photo) turned in a sizzling late burst of speed to score the title in the $100,000 Indiana Stallion Fillies. The duo hit the wire in a charging finish to win by a head bob in the six-furlong sprint.

Starting from post six, Sahara Hottie got away fourth on the inside behind Relentless Chick and Jose Gutierrez, the pacesetters in the sprint. Imperial Merlot and Joe Ramos sat to the outside in second with race favorite Spirited Justice and Luis Contreras tracking the top pair in third on the outside of Sahara Hottie.

Moving into the only turn of the race, it appeared Sahara Hottie might not have extra speed for the final portions of the race. Spirited Justice exploded to the lead and was on top by four in the initial stages of the stretch drive. The others seemed to have too much ground to make up but midway down the stretch, Sahara Hottie came to life, making up a tremendous amount of ground and timed the wire just right for the win by a nose over Spirited Justice. 

Sahara Hottie was a mild upset winner, paying $21.20 for the win. The two-year-old daughter of Sahara Sky is now two for four in her young career. She was bred and raised by Duane Swingley and was a private purchase by Marion Gorham for trainer Bob Gorham. Her win in the Indiana Stallion Fillies boosted her career bankroll to more than $88,000 with the win.

$200,000 Lady Fog Horn

Seeyouinabit and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. (photo) placed themselves as the horse to catch in the sixth running of the $200,000 Lady Fog Horn.

Seeyouinabit began from post three in the seven-filly field and got the jump on her opponents heading into the first turn of the one mile, 70-yard event. She had company during the first half of the race with Total Luna Eclipse and Mitchell Murrill sitting to their outside. The field remained close together heading into the final turn.

Coming out of the turn, Seeyouinabit picked up the tempo and began inching away from her opponents. Spooky Ridge and Joe Ramos came from off the pace and split horses midway through the stretch in an effort to catch her, but in the end, Seeyouinabit was a winner by one and three-quarter lengths.

 Seeyouinabit was a bit of a surprise, paying $47.80 for the win. The homebred daughter of Bahjatty is owned by Genaro Garcia’s Southwest Racing Stable and Bruce and Lori Murphy. It was her third career win in her 11^th career start and she more than doubled her career bankroll to more than $185,000.

The Lady Fog Horn is named in honor of former two-time Horse of the Year Lady Fog Horn, who was trained by Tony Granitz. She completed her career with more than $820,000 on her card, and she is still the richest Indiana sired mare in history. She also still holds the record for most premier racing wins in one season at four victories.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.