Indulge Me, West Of LA, Twist N Clout take ISS divisions

October 01, 2008

Indulge Me sprung an 18-1 upset in the first of three divisions of the $320,900 International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old filly pacers Wednesday afternoon at The Red Mile. Mike Lachance was in the sulky behind the daughter of Bettor's Delight for trainer Ed Lohmeyer and owners Bob and Lauren Tucker.

Lachance left from post eight with Indulge Me and the filly was finally able to work her way to the lead over the Ron Pierce-driven Warrawee Kay shortly before the opening :26.2 quarter. But Pierce re-took the lead with Warrawee Kay at the three-eighths as Lachance willingly obliged.

Warrawee Kay reached the half in :55 and three quarters in 1:24 as an outer flow developed led by Campus Cutie and Brian Sears, followed by Shanghai Lil and Yannick Gingras.

Around the final turn Lachance was able to angle Indulge Me to the outside and came up alongside Warrawee Kay, who was beginnng to tire. Under urging, Indulge Me paced between horses and he filly reached the wire ahead of the late-rallying 45-1 outsider That's The Plan and Jody Jamieson in 1:52. Shanghai Lil held for third.

Lohmeyer said afterward that Indulge Me was cataloged in last year's Harrisburg Sale but was taken out when x-rays showed some problems. "Mr. Tucker said to give her a try and we'll see how she is," said Lohmeyer, adding that her only stakes engagement left this year is the Matron at Dover Downs.

The time was a career best for Indulge Me, besting her previous mark of 1:53.2 set Jug day at the Delaware, Ohio fairgrounds while winning a Standardbred division. The win was her fifth in 13 starts, increasing her earnings to more than $170,000 for the Tuckers.

West Of LA overcame nearly getting wiped out by a breaking horse early in the race to come back and win the second $107,300 ISS division in 1:53.2 for driver Steve Condren. The daughter of Western Hanover rallied late down the stretch after making up a ton of ground in recovering to edge Up Front Noel and Andrew McCarthy in the shadow of the wire. Thou Shalt Not was third for Ron Pierce.

Bob McIntosh trains and co-owns the winner with Al McIntosh Holdings and CSX Stables. The career-best win was her third in eight starts, increasing her earnings to more than $140,000.

David Miller got New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Twist N Clout away second in the third $107,200 ISS split, got shuffled back a spot when Mike Micallef rushed Palazzo Princess to the lead down the backstretch, and then angled out again at the top of the stretch to post a 1:53.2 victory. Perfectionist, who had the first call for driver Pierce before relinquishing the top to Palazzo Princess, held for second after taking a short lead in the stretch. It Hurts Me and Brian Sears was third.

Joe Holloway trains the winning daughter f Western Ideal for owner Val D'Or Farms. The time lowered her previous career best by two-fifths of a second set two starts back while winning the $104,900 Kentuckiana Stallion Management at Indiana Downs. Twist N Clout now shows career earnings of more than $280,000.

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