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Indiano proves best in Mr. Prospector

Indiano turned the tables on 7-5 favorite Action Andy (left, in third) (Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography) Stud El Aguila's Indiano rallied into contention four wide off the far turn and wore down Off the Jak and Action Andy late to win Saturday's Grade 3, $98,000 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park by nearly a length. A two-time champion in Panama, the Marty Wolfson-trained colt garnered his second graded victory stateside and eighth overall stakes tally, improving his career mark to 17-10-4-2, $487,196. After breaking sharply under Luis Saez, Indiano was eased back to stalk front-runners Dreaming of Nero, Off the Jak and Action Andy, who contested opening splits of :22 and :45 while three abreast on the track. Saez guided Indiano around rivals nearing the completion of the far turn and set his mount down for the final furlongs. Dreaming of Neno was the first to check out upon reaching the head of the lane, but Off the Jak and Action Andy were still full of run as they turned for home. Indiano kept grinding and eventually overhauled a game Off the Jak in deep stretch. He was edging away under the wire, completing six furlongs in 1:10 1/5 on the fast track. As the 8-5 second choice among five rivals, the winner paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.10.

"My horse is very good and I put him in a good spot," Saez said. "John Velazquez (on Action Andy) tried to push us out a little, but I knew we would win this race."

Off the Jak, the 17-1 longshot in the field, held the place by three parts of a length over 7-5 favorite Action Andy. It was another length back to Bull Dozer and Dreaming of Neno trained. Partyallnightlong was scratched.

Bred in Kentucky by Diamond A Racing Corp, Indiano was purchased for $15,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September sale. The son of Indian Charlie earned champion two-year-old and champion three-year-old honors in Panama before making his U.S. bow in March 2011. Indiano captured the Grade 2 Carry Back, Unbridled and Eillo, and placed in four events as a sophomore, including a third in last year's Mr. Prospector. The four-year-old opened 2012 with a second in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint in July and then won the Giant Ryan at Calder in early August.

Indiano entered the Mr. Prospector off a runner-up finish to Action Andy in the December 8 Pelican at Tampa Bay Downs.

"I wasn't worried about Action Andy today," Wolfson said. "I just thought my horse would win and he got a pretty good trip, too.

"I've got to space his races now," added Wolfson, who indicated that Indiano will probably run later in the Gulfstream meeting. "He's kind of delicate."

Indiano is out the Chilean-bred mare Separata, a Group 1-winning daughter of Sam M. who captured a pair of U.S. stakes and also finished second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita. Indiano's half-sister, Separate Forest, captured the 2011 Las Cienegas and Separata is also the dam of Grade 3 runner-up Quite the Lady.

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