Inthemidstofbiz Upsets Thoroughbred Club of America
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Photo: Rick Samuels
Inthemidstofbiz wins the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland
A patient approach paid off for the connections of Inthemidstofbiz when the 4-year-old filly scored an upset victory in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) Oct. 3 at Keeneland.
Making her graded stakes debut in her 13th start, Inthemidstofbiz smoothly advanced two wide in the turn to seize the lead turning for home. The daughter of Fed Biz put away a challenge from her inside from Palace Avenger in early stretch, then opened a clear advantage and wasn't seriously challenged late in posting a three-length victory in the six-furlong test for fillies and mares.
Finishing second was Sneaking Out, a 4-year-old Indian Evening filly who entered off back-to-back graded stakes wins in Southern California, and taking third was Palace Avenger, a 3-year-old daughter of Palace making her stakes debut off a pair of allowance-level wins at Saratoga Race Course.
"We got lucky today. She's getting better and better," winning trainer and co-owner Cipriano Contreras said. "We claimed this filly (for $20,000 at Keeneland during the 2019 fall meet) and ran her for (a $16,000 claiming price) at Oaklawn Park. She started running better, and we took a shot. It worked out."
The connections of Inthemidstofbiz enjoy the trophy presentation for the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes
Contreras Stable and Andrew Knapczyk's Inthemidstofbiz entered off victories in three of her past four starts, with the loss coming on turf. She ran five times at the Oaklawn Park meet, scoring a 2 1/2-length allowance win April 26. She followed with a pair of allowance-level starts at Indiana Grand, finishing third in a turf race there ahead of a 3 1/2-length victory on the main track July 20.
That set her up for her stakes debut, where she kept her momentum going, posting a front-end victory in the Satin and Lace Stakes Aug. 31 on the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs.
Inthemidstofbiz completed the six furlongs Saturday in 1:09.84 on a fast track. The TCA is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race, and Inthemidstofbiz earned a fees-paid "Win and You're In" bid to the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
"She's a great filly. I had a really good position," said winning rider Martin Garcia, who was aboard for the first time. "When I asked her to go, she made it really easy."
Sneaking Out rallied from fourth to finish second. Jockey Umberto Rispoli said Sneaking Out wasn't comfortable racing inside after starting from the inside post.
"She is the kind of filly who can have the lead if there is no one faster, but that was not the case today," Rispoli said. "I believe if she had drawn an outside (post position), the race definitely would have changed. She finished off pretty strong, and I am pretty sure if I had been on the outside, the (outcome) would be different. Post 1 is always a gamble. Outside, she could dominate the other horses. Inside, she was not happy."
Bred in Kentucky by J D Stuart and Mueller Farms, Inthemidstofbiz is out of the Closing Argument mare Midst, who has produced four winners from as many starters, including stakes-placed Katniss the Victor, by Midnight Lute .