Subtle Indian Powerful in Count Fleet Sprint

Mercedes Stable's homebred Subtle Indian controlled the pace soon after the start and drew away in the stretch for a dominant 3 3/4-length victory the $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) April 10 at Oaklawn Park.

 

The 4-year-old Indian Charlie gelding finished six furlongs in 1:08.30 and became the 26th graded stakes winner for his deceased sire.

 

Subtle Indian spurted to the lead for jockey Ramon Vazquez and ticked off an opening quarter in a sprightly :21.42 and a half mile in :44.38, with Cinco Charlie in pursuit, 1 1/2 lengths back. Very relaxed through the turn, the winner lengthened stride and opened up by 3 1/2 lengths in early stretch to secure the win, his fourth from as many starts this year. Alsvid was up for second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Cinco Charlie, another son of Indian Charlie, in third.

 

"He's lighting fast," Vazquez 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 ... but my horse never looked back once we left the gate. It's a great feeling to win on this nice horse."

 

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Subtle Indian is six for seven at Oaklawn, where he won the listed Hot Springs Stakes March 5. Overall, he has seven wins from nine starts, including the 2015 Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn.

 

The 2-1 favorite in the nine-horse field, Subtle Indian paid $6, $3.60, and $2.40. Alsvid returned $7.60 and $3.60, while Cinco Charlie paid $3 to show.

 

Cautious came in fourth, followed by Bayerd, Recount, W. B. Smudge, Gentlemen's Bet, and Speightsong to complete the order of finish.