SHELBYVILLE, IN—AUGUST 1, 2015—The team of Trainer Randy Smith and Jockey Juan Guerrero scored their second stakes win of the night (Saturday) when Beach Cartel reeled in the title of the 13th running of the $122,700 Blue River Derby at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.

The duo covered the 400-yard distance in a time of :20.126 seconds to provide Smith and Guerrero with a training and riding triple on the third all-Quarter Horse racing program of 2015.

Horses were loaded into the gate awaiting just a few horses to step in when Hand of Doom, one of the top choices in the race, became fractious. As a result, the field was backed out and Hand of Doom was scratched, providing a slight delay before the running of the Blue River Derby.

Horses were reloaded and the three horses on the inside, which included Beach Cartel in the middle, broke smoothly en route to the finish line. Massive bumping took place from the starters on the outside, giving an advantage early on to the trio of horses on the inside. Ms Fool Me Once and Cristian Esqueda kept close tabs on Beach Cartel from the inside while Stinkin Rich and Shanley Jackson applied pressure to the leader from the outside. The latter two proved to be the two to catch as the wire neared.

In the late stages of the race, Beach Cartel began to stretch out his stride and got an advantage over Stinkin Rich, winning by three-quarters of a length. Ms Fool Me Once stayed steady for third. Beach Cartel paid $5.00, $3.20, $2.60 across the board as the race favorite.

Beach Cartel, owned and bred by Sheri Miller, is now three for five in his brief career. Unraced at two, the grey gelding has earned in excess of $96,000. He is out of the First To Flash mare Flashin Dee Dee.

“He (Beach Cartel) started out rough, but a light came on as a three-year-old and he hasn’t backed up since,” said Smith, who is primed to set a new record for most wins in one season as a trainer, already earning 27 wins this year. “He’s a good keeper and he gets the same care as the rest of them. But I have to credit my help. You can have the best horse in the world, but without good help, you won’t get far.”

Smith is now in his second year with Guerrero as part of his team. The two hooked up before the start of the meet at Indiana Grand last year, earning both the training and riding titles in the Quarter Horse ranks. Smith set a record last year with 28 wins in one season, a record he is sure to reset in 2015. Guerrero is in the same situation, currently sitting at 24 wins for the year with the mark of 28 wins set by Harold Collins in 2013 well within his reach just halfway through the 2015 racing season.

“Juan (Guerrero) is part of that good help in the barn,” said Smith. “He is there every morning at 5 a.m. and works very hard. We go to a farm in Florida during the winter and he breaks all the babies, so he has been with this horse (Beach Cartel) since the very beginning.”

The Smith Team was busy once again during the all-Quarter Horse racing night, starting 14 horses over nine races. In all, Smith has a 64-horse stable and shuffles them in and out during the racing season.

“We have a couple of farms around here we utilize,” said Smith. “This horse (Beach Cartel) will get some time off now so he can just be a horse. The next race for him will be the SSA Derby (Stallion Service Auction Derby Sept. 12).”

Smith’s team also includes his wife, Debbie, who continues to manage the family’s other businesses back at their home in Broughton, Ill. The Smiths were involved in construction before they shifted into Quarter Horse racing full time about four years ago.

The win with Beach Cartel was the third on the night for the Smith Stable. They also picked up wins in the $35,440 2015 Speed Sale Stakes with My Louisiana Rod as well as a $17,500 allowance race with BV Hello Darlin in the third race.

Matt Frazier saddled Stinkin Rich for owner/breeder Carolyn Bruce. The One Famous Eagle gelding earned $23,540 to push his career mark to nearly $220,000. The multiple stakes winner is out of the Sc Chiseled in Stone mare Miss Scarlet.

Also by Escondido Beach, Miss Fool Me One is owned by Robert Loudermilk and trained by Roy Moore. Moore also bred the filly from the Thoroughbred mare Foolinthemeadow, by Meadow Prayer. She earned $12,270 for the effort.

Completing the official order of finish were Rock Crushin Dynasty, Hf Dashin Jojo, Dna Dales Quick Cat, Interfector, Absolut Teller and Zoom Zoom Ava. Hand Of Doom was scratched.

The 13th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse continues through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Racing is conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2:05 p.m. with first post Saturdays set at 6:05 p.m. Thursday racing will be added beginning Sept. 17 with a post time of 2:05 p.m. EST.

About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, a Centaur Gaming destination, holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile oval racecourse offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino as well as an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com or www.CentaurGaming.net.