Indiano confident in Mr. Prospector win
Third in the last year’s edition of the Mr. Prospector Stakes, Stud El Aguila’s 5-year-old horse, Indiano, with one victory and two second place finishes in 2012 registered his second victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 29 December, 2012, after a determined outside rally to cast Off the Jak in second place.
Though it was a re-match between Action Andy and Indiano, as the former in their last race defeated Indiano in the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on 8 December, 2012. Action Andy won the Pelican Stakes by a convincing margin of 2 ¼ lengths, as Indiano skimmed the rail to a second place finish.
This time around, Martin D. Wolfson’s trainee turned the tables on Action Andy. Drawing post number 6, Indiano was set to stay away from the rail six furlong dash on dirt, and staying outside benefitted to his chances of winning, and with his gutsy run he overhauled the leaders to post a three quarters of a length victory.
Pelican Stakes and the Mr. Prospector are both run over a distance of 6 furlongs, and Indiano got the distance in Mr. Prospector in 1 minute and 10.26 seconds.
"He's a better horse than Action Andy," Wolfson remarked. "I knew that last time, but that horse was fresh and had been training at Tampa. My horse just got up there that day. I wasn't worried about Action Andy today. I just thought my horse would win and he got a pretty good trip, too."
The second choice sent at 8 to 5, Indiano was settled in fourth initially by jockey Luis Saez, but it was the 7 to 5 favourite Action Andy, who jumped to the lead, and shortly outpaced his rivals.
It was Dreaming of Neno, who assembled a powerful run just to place his head in front of Action Andy, but the 17 to 1 shot Off the Jak impressed as he cut the two in the stretch to take the lead, but Indiano ground down the leaders to take his second graded stakes victory, as Action Andy finished third.
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