Scoop Wins Hoosier Park's First Graded Race

From Hoosier Park
Through sloppy track conditions, Scoop and Robby Albarado emerged as the final leaders to prevail in the $200,000-added Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks, Hoosier Park's first graded stakes event. The grade III race was the featured event on the 11-race program Friday.

Starting from post four in the nine-filly lineup, Robby Albarado broke in mid pack aboard Scoop and immediately decided to lay off the early challenges for the lead. Five fillies went side by side into the first turn in pursuit of the lead. Albarado kept Scoop along the inside, tracking the progress of the front five until they landed into position down the backstretch. Scoop began to make her move toward the leaders. The Gone West filly saved ground, hugging the rail and placing a head in front of Caressing and Rene Douglas before the final turn had arrived.

"I was able to see all that was occurring ahead of me and I was able to dictate what I needed to do on the back side," said Albarado, who was victorious aboard One Bold Stroke in the 1998 Indiana Derby. "It always helps to not be in tight quarters. She was content being where she was. Due to the track conditions, I wanted to conserve her, so I decided to wait until the stretch before I called upon her."

In the stretch, Scoop had several lengths built up on the remainder of the field and obeyed every direction from Albarado. Owned by James Tafel, she rallied to a three length victory in a time of 1:44.0. Gold Huntress and Shane Laviolette rallied up well from the back for second over Caressing, who held on for the third place.

Scoop picked up her first graded stakes win in the effort, which was her fifth career win. She jumped her career earnings to more than $325,000 for trainer Gene Cilio, who is based out of Arlington Park in Chicago. Scoop paid $11.00, $5.00, and $2.60 across the board.

"It looked like the inside was the place to be," said Cilio. "She took the bit, Robbie let her go and it worked out from there."

Cilio has experienced success in the past at Hoosier Park. He conditioned Take Note Of Me to victory in the 1999 Indy Mile, and was the trainer of Crafty Oak, winner of the 1998 Wabash Stakes.