Heza Hawkeye, ridden by German Rodriguez, wins his trial heat and clocks the fastest qualifying time to the Heartland Futurity at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday.

© Coady Media

By Tammy Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 28, 2025–Heza Hawkeye and German Rodriguez established themselves as the top pair to catch during the Heartland Futurity Trials Saturday, June 28 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. A total of 53 starters were included in six trials to narrow the field down to the top 10 headed to the $172,480 Heartland Futurity Final, offering the largest purse in the 17-year history of the race.

Heza Hawkeye was out of the gate with a blast from the outside post nine and took control early on in the 350-yard dash. As the race unfolded, so did Heza Hawkeye, opening up with every stride to win by two and one-quarter lengths in :17.555. Remember Da Queen and Eduardo Diaz won the tight photo with Suzys Kristine and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez to finished second.

Heza Hawkeye is unique in Rodriguez serves as both his trainer and his jockey. The grey son of Hawkeye was a bit of a surprise, paying $19.80 for the win. It was his second start for owner Chavez Racing, managed by Roberto Chavez. The Texas bred was a $8,500 purchase from the Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale last fall.

When asked what changed between his first and second start in the past month, Rodriguez replied, “What changed was he (Heza Hawkeye) grew up (from) the first race. He was a kid. I put a flipping halter on him. We broke him out of the gates on the backside (in the morning), and he just popped it over the chute. He corrected himself a lot, and that's what happened today. We put him on the rig again, and he ran his race."

Heza Hawkeye is part of the third crop of Texas stallion Hawkeye, who was the second leading second-crop sire last year. Chris Duke, president of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana, has had great success with another son of Hawkeye, Hawkeye Vision who competed in the recent Grade 1 $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park.

"Chris Duke has a hot guy right now (Hawkeye Vision) and this hot guy right here (Heza Hawkeye) is the same breeding but a different mama,” said Rodriguez. “But I told Chris this hot guy (Heza Hawkeye) is something else. I told him since the beginning when we broke him, he was good."

Rodriguez has insight into his horses since he’s the one that gets on them every morning. Heza Hawkeye stood out from the beginning for the accomplished jockey and first year trainer.

“There is an advantage to being the jockey and the trainer,” smiled Rodriguez. “You can ride your horse in the morning, the trainer is not gonna ride him in the morning you have to believe everything the rider is telling you on your horse. I don't have to tell that to myself."

Rodriguez is optimistic about the horses in his barn this season.

"I think this is one of the biggest horses we got running,” added Rodriguez about Heza Hawkeye. “I think it's one of the best. But you know some horses might jump up and surprise us this year."

Wr Hott Shott, ridden by Eduardo Diaz, clocked the second fastest qualifying time. © Coady Media

A horse that wasn’t a surprise in the Heartland Futurity Trials was WR Hott Shott, a recent addition to the Tim Eggleston barn. The One Famous Eagle son, ridden by Eduardo Diaz, made his first start over the Horseshoe Indianapolis surface a winning one, scoring the second fastest time of the day in his trial and second on the list of times behind Heza Hawkeye in :17.609. Roses After Midnight (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez) finished a nose back in second over Delreys Rollin Bayou and Francisco Quintero.

WR Hott Shott was making his third start after a win at Remington Park. It was the first start out of the Eggleston barn for the Oklahoma bred owned by Raymond Whitmire.

"He shipped him from Remington,” noted Eggleston, who is the track’s leading Quarter Horse trainer this season. “We've had him about 40 days or so and he's just a really nice horse to train. He ran well out there. He comes from a great breeder Mr.Whitmire."

It’s been a good week for the Eggleston barn. He connected with Jolie Laide in the $132,080 Horseshoe Indianapolis QHRAI Derby the week prior. The filly’s younger brother, The Unsung Hero came back to score his second win in as many starts in his trial of the Heartland Futurity, the fifth fastest time of the day.

“That’s a half sibling to Jolie Laide,” said Eggleston of The Unsung Hero. “He's a nice horse. He made a couple little mistakes but had a good race. I expect him to come back in the finals and will be tough. They are a lot alike. I think it comes from the mama. Both are very quiet, very laid back horses. They are very nice horses. You know, they get in the barn and relax."

Eggleston will saddle three for the Heartland Futurity Final, WR Hott Shott, The Unsung Hero, and Remember Da Queen. He is joined by Jessi Vazquez, who saddles two (Roses After Midnight, Suzys Kristine) along with Claudio Barraza, who also saddles two (Paint Me Sass, First Angel).

CLICK HERE to view a complete list of qualifiers to the Heartland Futurity, including the name, sex, times, pedigree, owner, trainer, breeder and jockey.

Five of the six trial winners advance to the final (Heza Hawkeye, WR Hott Shott, The Unsung Hero, First Angel, and Mr Blood Carver. Apollitical Speed, the sixth trial winner, was ranked 11th and will be an also eligible for the Heartland Futurity Final.

The Heartland Futurity Final will be one of four Saturday, July 19 during Quarter Horse Stakes Day. Purses will exceed $700,000 for the day dedicated to the sprinters. First post is set for 10:45 a.m. and will be complemented by numerous activities trackside, including food trucks, inflatables, face painting, and winner’s circle promotions. Martha Claussen, a nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst, will be on the trackside to assist during Quarter Horse Stakes Day.

The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

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. In addition, Horseshoe Indianapolis offers the only live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the state showcased on a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course. Simulcast and sports wagering is offered year-round at Caesars Race & Sportsbook, also located on the casino floor, with additional gaming provided at Caesars Race & Sportsbook in Clarksville, Ind. Players can reap benefits from Caesars Rewards, the industry’s most lucrative bonus program now offered at more than 50 destinations. Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Please play responsibly. If you think you or someone you care about may have a gambling problem, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448). ©2025 Caesars License Company, LLC.

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