Escondido Gold, ridden by Villamil Bocanegra, wins the $30,500 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby Invitational Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SHELBYVILLE, IN–AUGUST 30, 2025–Escondido Gold scored his first career stakes win on Saturday with a determined effort in the $30,500 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby Invitational Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Ridden by Diego Villamil Bocanegra, the Escondido Gold rallied after a troubled start to prevail by a nose at the wire, stopping the timer in :20.270 seconds with an 85 speed index. The victory was worth $16,775, pushing his earnings to $121,707 with six wins from 13 starts.

Escondido Gold, who had finished 15th in the trials for the QHRAI SSA Derby, was overlooked by bettors at 4-1 and returned $10.40 to win. The Indiana-bred gelding came out of the gates sideways, losing momentum in the opening strides, but surged back into contention in the 400-yard dash. He dug in late to hold off Beach First and John Wayne B in a dramatic blanket finish.

Owned by BFD Farms and trained by Natasha Perez, Escondido Gold is by Escondido Beach. He is out of Marthas Jess Gold, by Gold Medal Jess, and was bred in Indiana by Thomas Wylie. For Villamil Bocanegra, it marked his second career stakes victory.

Bocanegra won the Escondido Beach Overnight Stakes last year before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. He and Perez, a former jockey, have teamed up for numerous Indiana wins, with Perez accompanying him trackside on her pony for the winner’s circle presentation.

The connections of Escondido Gold accept the $30,500 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby Invitational Stakes winning trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday.
© Coady Media

“I was a little worried when I saw him load, and to be honest, he broke bad,” noted Perez. “But he’s a horse that always loves to come off the pace and he was flying at the end.”

Escondido Gold previously finished second in the Miss Roxie Little Futurity (G3) and was a finalist in the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity (G3), Gordon Mobley Futurity, Harley Greene Derby Stakes, and Blue River Derby.

Runner-up Beach First, a sorrel gelding ridden by Rolando Pina for owner Gregg Farris and trainer Tim Eggleston, was beaten a nose after leading much of the way. He is out of Gevalia, by Brimmerton, and was bred in Indiana by Sheri Miller. From 11 starts, the son of Escondido Beach has a record of 3-4-1 and $128,884 in earnings.

A five-time stakes finalist, Beach First captured the Blue River Derby earlier this season and ran second in the Leader of the Class Sale Futurity last year. He was a $12,000 repurchase at the 2023 QHRAI Speed Sale.

John Wayne B was another neck back in third with Giovani Vazquez-Gomez in the irons. The gelding is trained by Jessica Vazquez for owner Brisa Hernandez.

He was bred in Texas by Bielau Oaks out of Dashaway Eagle, by One Famous Eagle, and sold for $23,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. The son of Kiss My Hocks has yet to break his maiden from 11 starts with $124,884 in earnings.

Flashy Beach Dhd, This Is the One, Freckles Brown, and Arbitro completed the order of finish.

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