Page 189 - October 2023

MR MICHEL
by Kristen Moore
After a stumbled start, Mr Michel steadily gained ground to win the $83,500 Bob Woodard Memorial Classic by a neck at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Sept. 2. Ridden by jockey Edgar Diaz, the sorrel gelding covered the 400 yards in a time of :20.072 for a speed index of 89.
Mr Michel was awarded a hefty sum of $45,925 for owner Alberto Valadez and trainer Claudio Barraza. The gelding is a multiple stakes winner and holds a bankroll of $317,131. The gelding won the Bradford Stakes on July 5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
The sorrel gelding was bred by Mark Michel and is the leading money earner out of the mare Lovemelikethat. She has produced six winners from her first six starters and has nearly $600,000 in progeny earnings. Mr Michel is the full brother to stakes winner Kissmelikethat.
With game effort, One Coldhearted Diva (One Fabulous Eagle-Whata Chilled Cat) and jockey Giovani Vazquez-Gomez crossed the wire in second by a head. The mare is bred and owned by Bennett Racing Stable and trained by Jessica Vazquez. One Coldhearted Diva won the Horseshoe Indianapolis Distaff Challenge last September.
With a steady effort after being bumped, HH C J Shake (Escondido Beach-Shakem Jake) and jockey Erik Esqueda held onto third. The gelding is owned by Larry Carter, John Meyers and Bell and Rusty Hawkins and trained by Shawna Martin.
The remaining order of finish was Stone Lake (Escondido Beach-Silly Chix), Hooked On Jordan (Fast Prize Jordan-Hooked On Laveaux), High Rolling Seize (Seize The Win-Crossing The Brazos), J J Zoomin (Jess Zoomin-Justa Dance), Nachor Favorite (Habits Secret-Eyes A Favorite), Encores Bright Image (Encore-Bright Lineage), Nacho Sin Tacha (Habits Secret-Sin Tachas Angel).
HAD TO BE IVORY
by Kristen Moore
Leading the field in a wire-to-wire performace was Had To Be Ivory, who gave an all out run to sweep the $34,987 Horseshoe Indianapolis
Overnight Stakes on Aug. 30. Guided by the hand of jockey Francisco Quintero, the bay gelding finished the 350 yards in :17.580 and secured a speed index of 98.
Had To Be Ivory has taken first in all three of his outs this season, and secured $19,635 from this start for owners Carol and Jaime Robertson. He now sports a bankroll of $322,852. The gelding is trained by Anthony Cunningham and has placed in the money in 30 of his 31 career starts, 16 of those wins in stakes races. He was also undefeated during his 2022 racing season.
The gelding is the leading money earner out of the stakes winning mare Had To Be Fandango by Hadtobenuts. Had To Be Fandango has over half a million dollars in progeny earnings from just four starters.
WRS Valentino (Mighty B Valiant-WRS Kissandteller) and jockey Luz Martinez held steady in second throughout the race but were
no match for first. The gelding is a multiple stakes winner and is bred and owned by Williams Racing Stables Inc. He is trained by Anthony Cunningham and has finished in the money every one of his 23 career starts.
Owned and trained by Felix Barraza, Oscar Mike (Kiss My Hocks-Cosmic Corona) closed in on third in the stretch under jockey Martin Munoz.
Completing the remainder of the field were
AJK Enthusiasm (Mo Zoomo-Fetching Beauty), AJK Payyourtax (Mo Zoomo-Loving On The
Run), Furrst Hanka (Furrtreeous-LJ Hanka), El Huracan Ethics (Ethics Aside-Dashingforsophia), A Seperatist V (Separatist-Velvette). Chico Beach was scratched by trainer.
TACHAS SECRET
by Kristen Moore
By 1 1/2-lengths, race favorite Tachas Secret won the $36,740 Horseshoe Indianapolis Overnight Stakes on Aug. 31. Under jockey
Fernando Morin, the sorrel filly was never headed while charging down the 350 yards. The pair completed the race in a time of :17.563, earning a speed index of 98.
Tachas Secret secured winnings of $19,855 for owner Duke Racing LLC and trainer Ricardo Martinez. The filly has won 4 of her 5 starts this racing season
and now holds a career earnings of $162,640. She is a multiple stakes winner, winning the Miss Roxie Little Consolation Stakes last October.
The filly was bred by Ricardo Martinez and is the leading money earner out of Sin Tachas Angel, who has produced four foals, with all four of those foals being starters with two winners.
With a late bid, jockey Luz Martinez and Eye Live For Candy (A Revenant-Eyesa Candy Maker) pulled across the wire in second by a neck. The filly is owned by Milena Kwiecien and trained by Jason Pascoe. Eye Live For Candy placed third in the Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge-G3 earlier this season on July 19.
Carters Law (Carters Cartel-Zoomin Zoey B) and jockey Antonio Rodriguez gave steady effort and finished a game third. The gray filly is bred and owned by Gordon Timm and trained by Karin Yike. She was the winner of the Sterlie Bertram Memorial last October.
The remaining order of finish was Alota Lovin (Lota Pyc-Ms Victorita), Lota Cruising (Lota Pyc-Crazy About Corona), Miss Royal Snow (This Snow Is Royal-Jess Ready Too Wear), Jess Go Blue (Jess Zoomin-Miss Louisiana Blue), Kaysweetlass (One Sweet Jess-Lass To Know), Rk Lady Dana (Bogart-Rk Rollin Cartel). On A New Note, and Thisqueenisroyal were scratched.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE October 2023 187
Bob Woodard Memorial
Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes
Horseshoe Indianapolis Overnight S.
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Horseshoe Indianapolis • $34,987
350 yards • :17.580 • SI 98
Corona Cartel
Dashin Follies
Hadtobenuts
Ivory James
HAD TO BE IVORY, ‘15-g.
Had to Be Fandango
Grim Fandango
Horseshoe Indianapolis • $36,740
350 yards • :17.563 • SI 98
Habits Secret TACHAS SECRET, ‘20-f.
No Secrets Here
Habitual Dreamer
Pyc Paint Your Wagon
Sin Tachas Angel
Sin Tacha Perry
Horseshoe Indianapolis • $83,500
400 yards • :20.072 • SI 89
Tempting Dash
Romancing Mary Likenothinyoueversaw
Kiss My Hocks
MR MICHEL, ‘19-g. Lovemelikethat
First Smart Stride