Hurricane Ike Looks To Extend Win Streak in Schaefer Mile
Hurricane Ike and rider Terry Thompson will be looking to do some major damage in the 12th running of the $100,000-added Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Mile Saturday, Oct. 1 during Indiana Derby Day. Slated as race 10, the race is named for the late Mike Schaefer, the former chairman of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission who was instrumental in bringing pari-mutuel racing to the state of Indiana.
Hurricane Ike is now two for two over Hoosier Park’s oval for Thompson. The four-year-old son of Graeme Hall competed against the best horses in the country last year, scoring his only win in the Grade III Derby Trial at Churchill Downs. Hurricane Ike also competed in the Grade I Kings Bishop and the Grade I $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Trained by Jeff Thornbury, Hurricane Ike is back this season and looks to be in top form for his next test, the Schaefer Mile. He has drawn post eight in the eight-horse lineup and although Thompson has turned in two gate to wire performances aboard him, he sees the Schaefer Mile setting up a little differently.
“This time, we have a couple of good sprinters in there,” said Thompson. “The last time, we had things our way going slow for three quarters. But, it’s a great post for us. I’m not stuck down on the inside. Some of the speed horses are stuck on the inside, so I’ll see what they do. It might be a hotter pace this time than what we have been facing.”
Hurricane Ike is the third choice on the morning line at odds of 4-1. The favorite in the race is Glenwood Canyon, ridden by Robby Albarado from post seven. The Al Stall-trained son of Silver Deputy comes into the race off a fourth place finish at Saratoga in the $75,000 Birdstone Stake. He has two wins in five starts this season and will kick the race off as the favorite at odds of 5-2.
Another major threat for Hurricane Ike in the stake is Shadowbdancing from post three. The six-year-old Montbrook horse ships in from Prairie Meadows with a fifth place finish in the Grade III Cornhusker Handicap. Jesus Castanon, who will also ride favored Shackleford in the Indiana Derby, gets the call aboard Shadowbdancing, who has 12 career wins and more than $775,000 in career earnings. He is also one of the speed horses Thompson is referring to.
“If I want the lead, I can get it from post eight,” said Thompson. “But, I don’t think we will get it. If I’m lucky and he wants to go and we get there, we’ll just be burning each other up. I’ll have to talk to Jeff (Thornbury) and see what his take is on it.”
Owned by Dawn and Ike Thrash, Hurricane Ike has been a good investment. The Florida bred has four career wins and earnings in excess of $378,000. He appears to fit into the mile distance well and to run well over Hoosier Park’s oval.
“I’ve ridden him (Hurricane Ike) twice and he’s done everything I’ve asked of him,” said Thompson. “He’s been perfect for me, so I guess there isn’t much to not like about him. He’s real push button. He puts you in the race and when it’s time to go, you ask him and he gives it to you.”
Thompson is back on the Indiana scene this year. The Nebraska native earned back to back leading rider titles at Hoosier Park in 2000 and 2001. He is still ranked third on the list of all-time leading riders at the track even though he’s been absent from the Hoosier Park scene on a full time basis for the past decade. Thompson has more than 2,700 career wins and is currently ranked 16th in the nation for wins this year. He has numerous leading rider titles to his credit, including Prairie Meadows and Oaklawn Park.
Photo by Linscott Photography