Bodenheimer Blitzes Indian Summer

LEXINGTON, KY – Kristin Boice and Marylou Holden’s Bodenheimer blitzed the field with a sharp gate-to-wire victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland.

The Indian Summer is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Bodenheimer receiving an automatic berth in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland this November.

Bodenheimer was quickest into stride as he broke from post 2 under Brian Hernandez Jr. at 4/1 odds, taking the lead down the backstretch and into the far turn.

After clicking off opening fractions of :21.60 and :44.56, Bodenheimer turned for home still in command and opened up on his rivals.

Though he grew leg-weary late, Bodenheimer’s sizeable advantage proved too much for a rallying Cowan to cover.

The Valorie Lund trainee crossed a length clear while completing the 5 1/2-furlong firm turf sprint in 1:02.70.

“We are so thrilled because this means we have an opportunity to take him to the Breeders’ Cup,” Lund said. “I’ve never had a 2-year-old that I thought early in the year was good enough, but when this colt started breezing, I thought, ‘He is good enough,’ so that is where we are going.”

Cowan was 6 lengths clear of Agog in third, while the 2/1 favorite Good With People was another 3 lengths behind in fourth.

Roderick and Petit Verdot completed the order of finish.

Wink and Golden Pal were scratched.

Bodenheimer’s win was his third from 4 career starts, each coming at a different track including his lone defeat last time out in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes. The Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy colt, purchased for $27,000 as a yearling, has now earned $141,225.

“My wife watched this horse at Kentucky Downs,” said Hernandez Jr. “She said, ‘You know, that horse is going to win the Indian Summer.’ She said it all week, so I’ve gotta give her all the props of knowing how good he is and to Valorie for doing such a good job. He’s a fast horse. He left there good – he did that with me at Kentucky Downs as well. He leaves there fast. He kinda puts the race to ‘em, and that’s what he did today. He was the fastest horse in the race.”

Bodenheimer returned $10.20 to win, $5.20 to place, and $3.20 to show. Cowan brought back $4 to place and $3 to show, while Agog paid $4.80 to show.