BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Brad Grady’s Honey Dijon scratched out of Saturday’s $225,000 Mamzelle at Churchill and will instead make her first start of the year in the $150,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at one-mile on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis Wednesday. Honey Dijon will be joined by fellow Florida-bred Chi Chi in the contest, which has drawn a full field of 12 plus six on the also eligible list.
Honey Dijon, who shares honors as the Florida-bred champion 2-year-old filly of 2023 with R Harper Rose, last year battled with that rival in the last two filly divisions of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park. She was second to R Harper Rose in the $200,000 Susan’s Girl going seven furlongs on Oct. 21before turning the tables to win the $400,000 My Dear Girl at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Dec. 2.
In her only other start against stakes company, Honey Dijon was sixth in the $499,000 Pepsi Untappable won by Crown Imperial going six-and-a-half furlongs on the unique turf course at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 13.
Honey Dijon has won two of five career starts with a second while earning $284,450. Bred in Florida by Brady and Misty Grady, Honey Dijon is by Girvin out of Archangelous, by Empire Maker.
Trainer Joe Sharp has given the riding assignment on Honey Dijon to Alex Conception and they will break from post two. Honey Dijon is 12-1 on the morning line and has been assigned 119 pounds.
A two-time stakes-winner last year, Chi Chi looks for her first victory since winning the $60,000 Juvenile Sprint going six-and-a-half furlongs in November at Gulfstream Park when trained by Herman Wilensky.
Chi Chi last year also won the $50,000 E. K. Gaylord at the same distance at Remington Park in September.
The bay daughter of Audible makes her second start since transferring to trainer Sam Wilensky for whom she was fourth last time behind winner Denim and Pearls in the Grade 2 MiddleGround Capital Beaumont going seven furlongs at Keeneland on April 7.
She was third against stakes company in her two previous starts, both at Gulfstream Park, including the Grade 3 Forward Gal won by R Harper Rose going seven furlongs on Feb. 3. She also finished in the show spot in the $102,000 Any Limit won by Launch going six furlongs on March 17.
Chi Chi is out of Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (Arg) and was bred in Florida by France Weiner. She has two wins in nine starts with a second and two thirds with earnings of $131,483.
She is 30-1 on the morning line and Tyler Conner will ride her from post five. She has been assigned to carry 121 pounds.
Trainer Mark Casse will saddle Pounce, who is one of three fillies assigned to carry the top-weight of 123 pounds for the Horseshoe Indianapolis.
A winner of the Grade 3 Hercomesthebride over a mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park on March 2, Pounce disappointed last time out at the same distance on the grass when finishing eleventh of 12 in the Grade 2 Appalachian presented by Japan Racing Association won by Buchu at Keeneland on April 6.
By Lookin At Lucky out of Bouncy, by Twirling Candy, Pounce has won three of five career starts while banking $221,324 for owner Resolute Racing.
Pounce has post 11, is the 5-2 favorite in the program and will have Javier Castellano aboard.
Rounding out the field are Nice as Pie and rider Adam Beschizza (121lbs.), Pursuit of Liberty with jockey Florent Geroux (119 lbs.), Neom Beach has Cristian Torres (119 lbs.) named to ride, Gavea (Ger) has Julien Leparoux (123 lbs.) taking the riding chores, Jareth Loverberry (119 lbs.) will be aboard Buttercream Babe, Voodoo Magic (Fr) with jockey Martin Pedroza Jr. (121 lbs.), Hidden Class and rider Jaime Torres (119 lbs.), Reylu Gutierrez (119 lbs.) will guide Crown Imperial and Dozen Diamonds has Fernando De La Cruz (123 lbs.) set to ride.
Twirl Around, Dazzlin’ Dictator, Poolside With Slim (Ire), Waves of Mischief, Moon Spun and Big Trouble are listed on the also-eligible list.
