EMO Stables’ Indy Run set all the pace in a $20,000 claiming race at Colonial Downs on Sunday, June 27, and withstood challenges from Eamonn and then Rubicon to win by a neck. Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Rubicon just missed and settled for second place, while Eamonn finished third, 4 3/4 lengths farther back.
Trained by owner Ernie Oare, Indy Run broke alertly under jockey Roddy Mackenzie and set a solid pace over Great Gusto and 2.80-to-1 favorite Fogcutter for the first circuit of the expansive Colonial turf course in New Kent, Va. Nearing the final turn on the second circuit in the 2 1/4-mile race over National Fences, owner-trainer Edward Mulligan’s Eamonn made a sharp move under Jeff Murphy, and the challenger drew even over the final fence in Colonial’s stretch.
But Indy Run had energy in reserve and soon dispatched Eamonn’s challenge. Rubicon, ridden by Danielle Hodsdon, picked up the pace after the final fence, split horses, and took aim on Indy Run. But the front-runner stayed well to notch the victory as the 3.80-to-1 second betting choice. The seven-year-old A.P. Indy gelding ran the distance in 4:07.89 on firm turf.
In the afternoon’s other steeplechase race, Hodsdon rode Timber Bay Farm’s homebred Mattituck Inlet to a 3 3/4-length victory in a $15,000 maiden claiming race. Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Mattituck Inlet was favored at 1.30-to-1 and ran the 2 1/4 miles in 4:14.37.