Indiana Grand Race Course Picks – Thursday, September 17, 2020

Indiana Grand Race Course’s 11-race card for Thursday consists of nine maiden, allowance, and claiming thoroughbred races as well as two 400-yard quarter horse trials.

Remember that while I cover the three richest races at Indiana Grand Race Course, you can always find their full card at any of the best online racebooks.

Read on to find out who I tagged as winners for Indiana Grand’s richest races today.

This is a maiden special weight race for two-year-olds running a distance of one mile and 70 yards for a purse of $31,000.

While this may be a photo finish between the 8/5 favorite and the 5/1 underdog, I believe the underdog will win this one, so I’m backing the 5/1 Brew Pub, with Isaiah Wiseman in the irons. This colt moneyed one of his two career starts and has performed well in recent workouts.

Yes, the favorite—Aktulgali, ridden by Deshawn Parker—finished second in his single career start, and yes, he also has shown good performance in his workouts, but the breaking from the pole is not optimal, and underdog Brew Pub has Wiseman’s seven-pound apprentice allowance going for him.

Neither of the 20/1 longshots in this maiden race show any sign they’ll see a paycheck at the finish line.

This is an allowance race for Indiana-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward running a distance of six furlongs for a purse of $36,500.

Well, the winningest jockey in this race (Jose Montano) is aboard a horse I don’t think will do better than a money finish, so my bet is on the 9/5 morning line favorite, Golden Command, with Emmanuel Esquivel aboard.  This four-year-old filly moneyed three of her five career starts, winning two of them.

It’s possible that one of the longer-odds entries in this race will finish in the money, but the odds aren’t long enough to make a show bet worthwhile.

This is a maiden special weight race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of five furlongs on turf for a purse of $31,000.

I like the second-favored (3/1) Archie Can’t Sell, ridden by Deshawn Parker. This three-year-old gelding moneyed three of his four career starts.

My only caveat is that I would back the 1/1 morning line favorite Hug the Munny, with Emmanuel Esquivel aboard—but only if Rock N June Bug were scratched. Also a three-year-old gelding, Hug the Munny finished in the money two of his six career starts.

There’s an embarrassment of longshots in this race, including two 50/1s, a pair of 30/1s, and a 20/1. Sadly, their longshot status is well-deserved.

Take a look at my predictions and tips for Thursday races at two other tracks: