LEXINGTON, KY – Trainer/co-owner Cipriano Contreras’ Inthemidstofbiz sprung a 13/1 upset with an impressive driving effort in Saturday’s $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (TCA) Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
The TCA is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Inthemidstofbiz receiving an automatic berth in the Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland this November.
Inthemidstofbiz broke well from post 6 under Martin Garcia, Inthemidstofbiz stalked three-wide in the clear down the backstretch and into the far turn while Lady’s Island set the initial tempo.
Continuing to range up under her own power, Inthemidstofbiz took command at the 5/16 pole and drew off strongly in the stretch when asked, clearing away to win by 3 lengths.
Inthemidstofbiz completed the 6-furlong fast dirt sprint in 1:09.84.
“She’s a great filly,” Garcia said. “I had a really good position. When I asked her to go, she made it really easy.”
The 7/5 favorite Sneaking Out broke the rail and found herself buried inside until it was too late to get out and run after the winner, instead fighting hard to take second by a 1/2-length over Palace Avenger.
Dos Vinos, On Probation, Lady’s Island, and Divine Queen completed the order of finish.
Inthemidstofbiz’s win, her third straight, came in her graded stakes debut and improved her overall record to 13-6-2-1. The 4-year-old Fed Biz filly has now earned $297,121 for co-owners Contreras and Andrew Knapczyk, who claimed her for $20,000 at last fall’s Keeneland meet.
“We got lucky today,” Contreras said. “She’s getting better and better. We claimed this filly and ran her at Oaklawn. She started running better, and we took a shot. It worked out.”
Inthemidstofbiz returned $28.20 to win, $8.80 to place, and $4.20 to show. Sneaking Out brought back $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show, while Palace Avenger paid $3.20 to show.
