Mercedes Stables LLC's Subtle Indian has been an all-or-nothing sort in his career, winning his first three races, including the Gazebo S. over track and trip, before being eased in consecutive efforts last spring. Laid up for six months thereafter, he resurfaced in a local optional claimer Jan. 15 and was dismissed at 17-1, but won a fierce pace battle and held determinedly to triumph over several of today's foes. He made every yard Feb. 13 as well, then captured his second stakes victory when wiring the Hot Springs S. Mar. 5.
Making his graded stakes debut, the homebred gelding again wasted no time, blasting away from the inside stall as the favorite. He sped clear from Cinco Charlie through a sharp :21.42 quarter-mile and remained in hand while the other riders scrubbed on their mounts past the three-furlong marker. Arriving at the top of the lane 1 1/2 lengths to the good through a blazing :44.38 half-mile, he was set down by Ramon Vazquez and inched further clear while drifting out a bit.
Defending champion Alsvid made a modest close for second, with Cinco Charlie fading to third, but the Subtle Indian came home as much the best. The razor-sharp 4-year-old has now won six times in seven tries over the Arkansas oval.
Winning trainer Robertino Diodoro was quick to deflect credit after the race.
“My assistant, Rob Atras, he's done a great job with this horse. We just keep saying he's getting better and better, and he proved it again today. I want to thank Ernie (Moody) and Mercedes for giving me a chance to train a horse like this. I sure appreciate it.”
Vazquez, meanwhile, had no qualms about what he was out there to do aboard the speedball.
“He's lighting fast,” the 32-year-old Puerto Rican rider said. “The plan was to go to the front and never look back. It worked in a big way today. I know that there were a lot of talented runners in the field today with Asmussen's runners [Cinco Charlie and Bayerd] and Hartman [Alsvid], but my horse never looked back once we left the gate. It's a great feeling to win on this nice horse.”
Sunday, Oaklawn Park
COUNT FLEET SPRINT H.-GIII, $400,000, OP, 4-10, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:08.80, ft.
1–@SUBTLE INDIAN, 120, g, 4, by Indian Charlie
1st Dam: Subtle Aly (GSW), by French Envoy
2nd Dam: Aly Sweet, by Alydar
3rd Dam: Very Subtle, by Hoist the Silver
O/B-Mercedes Stables LLC (KY); T-Robertino Diodoro; J-Ramon
A. Vazquez. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 9-7-0-0, $500,300.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A.
[bullet ad=”hillndale-foaled-raised”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Alsvid, 118, g, 7, Officer–Reagle Mary, by Afternoon Deelites.
($55,000 2yo '11 OBSAPR). O-Black Hawk Stable (James
Rogers); B-Yanagawa Stud LTD. (KY); T-Chris A. Hartman.
$80,000.
3–Cinco Charlie, 118, c, 4, Indian Charlie–Ten Halos, by
Marquetry. ($95,000 RNA Ylg '13 FTSAUG; $75,000 Ylg '13
EASSEP; $190,000 2yo '14 OBSMAR). O-William L. & Corinne
Heiligbrodt; B-Candyland Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$40,000.
[bullet ad=”candyland-bredraisedsold”][bullet ad=”mulholland-foaled”]Margins: 3 3/4, 2 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.00, 9.80, 2.60.
Also Ran: Cautious Giant, Bayerd, Recount, W. B. Smudge, Gentlemen's Bet, Speightsong.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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