Racing


Winner Spirit Soars in Miss Roxie Little Futurity at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Winner Spirit, ridden by champion jockey James Flores wins the $201,500 Miss Roxie Little Futurity at HorseshoeIndianapolis on Saturday

© Coady Photography
Winner Spirit Soars in Miss Roxie Little Futurity at Horseshoe Indianapolis

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 29, 2022–Winner Spirit and James Flores were winners in the richest Quarter Horse race ever in the state of Indiana. The duo scored the victory in the $201,500 Miss Roxie Little Futurity to cap off a $1 million day in purses during the third Indiana Champions Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Winner Spirit and Flores began their journey from post three and quarters were tight in the first few strides, but Winner Spirit was focused and carried Flores right to the lead. The two-year-old Indiana bred son of Apollitical Spirit was joined by Dashtraxx and Rolando Pina on the inside through the early stages of the race. 

In the final strides of the 350-yard dash, Winner Spirit was able to pull away, scoring the win by one-half length in :17.682 seconds and clocking a 97 speed index. Dashtraxx was second over The Dirty Wagon and German Rodriguez for third.

The winning connections of Winner Spirit accept the Miss Roxie Little Stakes trophy on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
© Coady Photography

Winner Spirit, one of five in the Miss Roxie Little final for Leading Trainer Randy Smith, paid $10.60 for the win. The sorrel gelding is a homebred for Walter “Dick” Harrison, who was joined by his wife, Lois, of 72 years in the winner’s circle for the celebration. 

It was the fifth straight win for Winner Spirit and the second with Flores aboard, who rode the gelding out of Ms Victorita by Mighty Invictus to a win in the trials, posting the second fastest time to advance to the final.

“I had no relationship with the horse prior to the trial and relied on Randy (Smith) to tell me about him,” said Flores. “Randy told me last time that he would try to drift in, so I did the best I could to keep him straight. He kept a straight course tonight and responded very well to me. I want to thank the owners and to Randy for this opportunity. I enjoy coming up to ride for them in Indiana.”

Flores, who is based in New Mexico, has been coming in to ride for Smith and other trainers for the all-Quarter Horse racing days for the past five years. He has won numerous stakes races during his visits and adds two stakes wins to his credentials following the third Indiana Champions Day. He was also victorious for Smith aboard Head Patron in the QHRAI Derby.

The Miss Roxie Little Futurity is named after a mare that ran in Indiana prior to the turn of the century. The race has built up to one of the highest purse races for Indiana over the years and now holds the distinction of being the richest race ever for Quarter Horse racing in Indiana. It’s the third time Smith has won the race in the 14-year history of the race, which began in 2009.

“It’s always great to win a stakes race,” said the soft-spoken Smith, who finished first and third in the race. “It’s about having good owners, good help and good horses.”

Dashtraxx was prominent in his run and second best to winner Spirit. Trained by Tim Eggleston, the son of Valiant Hero has one win and three seconds from five starts with $56,480 in the bank.

Bred by Paragon Farms, Dashtraxx's owners Steve and Ashley Mullins bought him back for $48,000 after running him through the QHRAI Select Stallion sale. The Indiana bred gelding is out of Famous Dash To Me by One Famous Eagle.

The Dirty Wagon placed third 3/4-lengths behind Dashtraxx. Conditioned by Randy Smith, the son of On The Wagon has lit the board six out of seven starts with $72,028 in the bank.

The Dirty Wagon was repurchased for $13,000 in the QHRAI Select Stallion sale by his Keith Bode, who owns him in partnership with Deborah Smith. Bred by Amy Youngblood Peoples, the Indiana bred gelding is out of Chics Dirty Secret by No Secrets Here.

Completing the order of finish is Cv Apollitical Chick, Secret Horn, It Is On, Streakindownthebeach, Runaway Beach Chic, Piloted By An Angel and Our Louisiana Girl.

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The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

About Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis, owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, racing, dining, and diversity. Located just minutes from Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., this one-of-a-kind property has wall to wall excitement on the 105,940 square foot gaming floor, featuring more than 1,600 slots and 72 table games along with a state-of-the-art World Series of Poker Room containing 20 tables. Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.