Tachas Secret (#6) surged past Mr Michael (#1 as the hit the wire in Monday's $58,400 Bradford Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

By Tamm Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JULY 6, 2026–It was a battle to the wire between two Indiana powerhouses Monday, July 6, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin got the edge in the last stride to defend her title in the 28th running of the $58,400 Bradford Stakes.

Mr. Michel, the state’s all-time richest Indiana-bred, began from post one for Edgar Diaz, took the early lead from the gate. He was accompanied by Streakin Little Jess and Yovani Flores-Munoz to his outside through the majority of the 400-yard dash.

Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin began from post six, and they are known for their fast closing style. Mr Michel got the edge inside as Tachas Secret came flying on the outside, winning by a neck at the wire over Mr Michel. Apollitical Mission and Rolando Pina finished third among horses in a final time of 19.827 seconds.

"She (Tachas Secret) is a closer, and this time she did it again," said Trainer Ricardo Martinez. "At first, I thought it would be a tie because it was pretty close, but she got the win. She is a tough racehorse."

The winning connections of Tachas Secret accept the Bradford Stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
© Jack Coady Photography

Tachas Secret was the favorite, paying $4.60 for the win. The six-year-old sorrel mare by Habits Secret was bred by trainer Richardo Martinez, who owned and campaigned both her sire and her dam Sin Tachas Angel, who was a three-time winner during her racing career.

The mare was bred by Janet VanBebber, Chief Racing Officer for the American Quarter Horse Association, and is from her standout mare Sin Tacha Perry, a Graded Stakes winner who has produced several racehorses outside of Sin Tachas Angel, including Dulce Sin Tacha, a Grade 1 winner of more than $693,000 and last year's leading first-crop sire.

Tachas Secret upholds that pedigree proudly as she continues to rack up wins. She is a 14-time winner and has been owned by Duke Racing LLC for the majority of her career. Marla K. Robinson Family Trust is also now a part-owner of the mare, who surpassed $580,000 in earnings.

Tachas Secret is a perfect two for two this year, and with her latest win, she becomes the third all-time leading Indiana-bred Quarter Horse in state history behind Stone Cold Leader ($656,040) and Mr Michel ($767,840 and counting).

"She (Tachas Secret) has a lot of heart and does her business," said Chris Duke, primary partner of Duke Racing LLC. "I don’t want to say she is getting better, but she is solid and does everything right. This has been a battle between these two (Tachas Secret and Mr. Michel) over the past four years, and I have a lot of win photos with both horses in them. I’d say it is 50-50 on who wins."

Duke noted in an earlier interview that eggs were harvested from Tachas Secret this past winter to begin the next step of producing offspring. As a result, part of the superstar Indiana mare was acquired by the big breeding operation, Marla K. Robinson Family Trust, out of Utah. He also noted this will be the final year of racing for Tachas Secret.

Mr Michel, a 7-year-old sorrel gelding by Kiss My Hocks out of Lovemelikethat, by Likenothinyoueversaw, earned $11,680 for finishing second. Bred by Mark Michel, the veteran races for Alberto Valadez, is trained by Claudio Barraza, and was ridden by Edgar Diaz. Mr Michel was a $200,000 RNA at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Another neck back in third was Apollitical Mission, a 4-year-old brown gelding by The Transmission from Apollitical Deb, by Apollitical Jess. Bred by Walter R. "Dick" Harrison, he races for Phillip Harrison, is conditioned by Tim Eggleston, and was ridden by Rolando Pina. The gelding collected $5,840 for his effort.

Completing the order of finish were Streakin Little Jess, This Is the One, Kelli Girl, Apolitical Wagon, and Uuzzii.

The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse extends through Friday, November 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). ©2026 Caesars License Company, LLC.

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