Race: Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
Track: Horseshoe Indianapolis, Shelbyville, IN
Distance: 1 mile and 70 yards (Dirt)
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $100,000
Eligibility: 3-year-olds and up
Post Time: 9:40 PM ET
Race Number: 9
Field Size: 12 runners
Field Overview & Entries
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree (Sire – Dam, by Dam Sire) | Notable Form |
| 1 | Surly Furious | Samuel Bermudez | Glenn Wismer | Upstart – Perfect Prediction (Majesticperfection) | 2nd in allowance at IND |
| 2 | Money Supply | Joseph Ramos | Joe Sharp | Practical Joke – Evita’s Sister (Candy Ride) | 4th at Churchill Downs |
| 3 | Encino | Luan Machado | Brad H. Cox | Nyquist – Glittering Jewel (Bernardini) | 7th in G3 Pimlico Special |
| 4 | Warrior Johny | Marcelino Pedroza | Philip Bauer | Cairo Prince – Warrior Girl (A.P. Indy) | Won Prairie Meadows stakes |
| 5 | Track Phantom | Mike Smith | Steve Asmussen | Quality Road – Miss Sunset (Into Mischief) | 3rd at Churchill Downs |
| 6 | This Is Uscar | Edgar Morales | Jordan Blair | Oscar Performance – Journey On (Good Journey) | 2nd in Lone Star stakes |
| 7 | Midnight West | Alberto Burgos | Tomas Medina | Get Stormy – Cupids Gallop (Cuvee) | Won local allowance |
| 8 | Moonlight | Orlando Mojica | Chris Block | Audible – Sundown (Unbridled’s Song) | Back-to-back wins |
| 9 | Kupuna | Mitchell Murrill | Bret Calhoun | Hard Spun – Hanalei Hailey (Malibu Moon) | 6th at Churchill Downs |
| 10 | Speed Bias | Evin Roman | Ron Moquett | Uncle Mo – Hot Summer (Malibu Moon) | Won local allowance |
| 11 | Willy D’s | John Velazquez | Mike Maker | Lookin At Lucky – Boston Mine (Boston Harbor) | Won at Saratoga |
| 12 | Trademark | Fernando Cruz | Victoria Oliver | Upstart – Creative Trick (Creative Cause) | 6th at Monmouth Park |
Race Analysis & Contender Breakdown
Willy D’s
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: John Velazquez
Form: 2 wins in last 3 starts, including Saratoga allowance
Pedigree: Lookin At Lucky × Boston Mine – stamina and class
Outlook: Tactical speed and top connections. Peaking at the right time.
Moonlight
Trainer: Chris Block
Jockey: Orlando Mojica
Form: 2 straight wins at Churchill and Horseshoe Indy
Pedigree: Audible × Unbridled’s Song mare – stamina and dirt class
Outlook: In top form and loves the surface. Dangerous if pace collapses.
Warrior Johny
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza Jr.
Form: Won stakes at Prairie Meadows
Pedigree: Cairo Prince × A.P. Indy mare – classic dirt pedigree
Outlook: Versatile and game. Could sit a perfect stalking trip.
Track Phantom
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Mike Smith
Form: 3rd in Churchill sprint; stretching back out
Pedigree: Quality Road × Miss Sunset – speed and class
Outlook: Graded stakes experience. Dangerous if he gets loose early.
Pedigree Spotlight
Willy D’s (Lookin At Lucky): Proven sire of route winners; dam adds stamina.
Moonlight (Audible): Audible is emerging as a versatile dirt sire; Unbridled’s Song dam line adds class.
Track Phantom (Quality Road): Top-tier sire; dam was a multiple stakes winner.
This Is Uscar (Oscar Performance): Turf pedigree but has adapted well to dirt.
Top Pick: Willy D’s – Tactical speed, top connections, and recent form make him the one to beat.
Value Play: Moonlight – In career-best form and proven over the track.
Exacta Box: Willy D’s / Moonlight / Warrior Johny
Longshot to Watch: Speed Bias – Local win last out and could get a favorable pace setup.
