SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 27, 2018—Tommy The Train was back on track in the sixth running of the $84,520 Indiana Championship Saturday. The stakes race was the first of four featured on the final all-Quarter Horse racing night at Indiana Grand.

Starting from post one, Jockey James Flores had Tommy the Train ready to roll when the starting gate sprung open. In two quick jumps, the son of Freighttrain B was on top of the field of eight older sprinters in the 400-yard dash.

The four-year-old held steady down the stretch, and although Country Boy 123 and L.D. Martinez were beginning to close in late, Tommy the Train pushed through to the wire, winning the race by a neck in a time of :19.672 seconds, just missing the stakes record set by Gallant Ways in 2013 in a time of :19.607 seconds. As and Js and Yordanis Amaro maintained ground for third.

"He broke on the lead and he finished where he broke," said Flores, who has ridden him in seven of his nine career wins. "He felt really good tonight. I worked him at Will Rogers Downs a couple weeks ago and he really trained well. Larry asked me to come and ride him tonight, so I decided to make the trip."

Bred by Duane Murphy from the Okey Dokey Dale mare Okie Dokey Annie, Tommy The Train is now seven for eight over Indiana’s racetrack. He earned his ninth career win in the Indiana Championships and increased his career bankroll to more than $275,000 for owners Brant and Jon Barley and Brad Sharp.

Larry Sharp trains the Missouri bred gelding, who has been a solid performer for his barn the past three years.

"He (Tommy the Train) was sick the first part of this year and I liked to never have gotten him over it," said Sharp. "He likes the farm where he can relax and that was good for him. He’s easy to deal with and he’s pretty laid back. With the good ones, you don’t have to do much to them. Just feed them and stay out of their way."

Sharp and his wife Pat were joined by a large group of supporters for the local star in the winner’s circle photo, including co-owner Brant Barley, who makes the trip up from Asbury, Mo. to watch him race every chance he gets.

"He’s had some bad luck this season," said Brant Barley. "He ran big at Remington Park in a tough bunch of horses and ran sixth but he was right there. After that, he’s just run into some bad breaks. We’ve had him at the farm and let him relax. He has a door he can see outside and it was good for him to be home. Tonight was his first clean trip since his start at Remington."

Suffering his first loss of the season after seven consecutive wins, Ruth Barbour's super consistent Country Boy 123 earned $16,904 for his effort. Jockey Luz Martinez rode the son of Country Chicks Man for trainer Anthony Cunningham. Bred in Michigan by Carolyn Bay, County Boy 123 is out of Very Dashin 123 by Dash Thru Traffic. He has earned $273,426.

Posttime favorite As And Js picked up $8,452 for third. Owner-trainer Leonardo Alcala saddled the stakes winning daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess. Bred in Oklahoma by Five Puig Racing LLC, the bay filly, from the Tres Seis mare Adolph Tres Knockout, has banked $386,842.

Woop Dee Doo, Encore, Play Harder and Llano Senator completed the field. Prudish Cartel completed the field.

The 16th season of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horse racing continues through Wednesday, Nov. 7. Racing is conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:05 p.m. with Saturday racing beginning at 6:05 p.m.

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About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile dirt race course and a seven-eighths mile turf course offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Winner's Circle Brewpub & OTB located on the casino floor as well as an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.