How About Now rallies to win Cleopatra Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Horseshoe Indianapolis got exactly what a mid-tier track wants from a marquee card: a betting spike big enough to set a record, and a stakes race that rewarded players who found value. Caesars Day produced more than $5.471 million in handle on May 13, the most money wagered on any non-Indiana Derby racing program in the venue’s 24-year history, a strong sign that the track can still turn a full, competitive program into real wagering urgency.

The centerpiece on the turf was the $150,000 Cleopatra Stakes, where How About Now cashed for owner-breeder Summer Wind Farm with a rally that fit the day’s stakes-heavy mood. The 3-year-old filly settled in from post seven, waited while the pace developed, then threaded through traffic and powered past the leaders to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:37.12 for one mile on turf. She returned $15.40 to win, making the result a mild upset rather than a chalky finish.

Axel Concepcion handled the ride for trainer George R. Arnold II, and the connection mattered. Concepcion had not previously ridden How About Now in a race or workout, but he was briefed on how to get her into race mode and trusted the setup. That patience paid off against a 10-runner field that gave the race depth, with Faye’s Gold finishing second, Soloist third, and Resplendence and East Jabip also among the top finishers.

For How About Now, the win carried more than one afternoon’s payoff. The Kentucky-bred filly by Not This Time out of A Star Is Born (IRE) improved her bankroll to more than $159,000 and added back-to-back victories to her record, a useful marker for a sophomore filly still trending upward. The kind of performance that wins these races also helps the betting pool, because it rewards players willing to take a shot on a horse that can relax early and finish through traffic.

The bigger story for Horseshoe Indianapolis is that Caesars Day looked less like a one-off promotion than a continuation of momentum. The track said its 2025 meet topped $287 million in handle and produced a fifth straight year of record live-racing wagering. It also set a single-day mark of more than $9.163 million on Indiana Derby day last July, so the Caesars Day total does not replace that benchmark. What it does show is that the track can still create serious volume when the card offers a stakes race with a live field, a plausible price horse, and enough competitive shape to make bettors lean in.