Niagara Charlie first turf winner for Cinco Charlie

Front-running Niagara Charlie repelled a stiff challenge in the stretch to break his maiden by 1 ¼-lengths over the Indiana Downs turf course on Thursday afternoon.

The bay 2-year-old is the fourth overall winner for his top-10 First-Crop sire, and the first going a route of ground on the turf.

Niagara Charlie races for Joe Shaw and Randy Klopp, the latter also his trainer. Bred in Kentucky by Hedberg Hall, Inc., Niagara Charlie is out of Dance Smartly S. (G2) winner The Niagara Queen and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Mayas Queen Neetee.

Cinco Charlie’s upcoming entries include a pair of maiden special weight runners Sunday at Del Mar, with the filly Basilia on the turf for trainer Peter Miller and the colt Bolu on the main track for Juan Hernandez.