Tw A Political Beach, under jockey Diego Villamil Bocanegra, won the $194,520 Heartland Futurity Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

By Tammy Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JULY 18, 2026–TW A Political Beach gave trainer Natasha Perez a nice connection to the 18th running of the $194,520 Heartland Futurity. She won the race as a jockey in 2020 aboard Shez Bodacious. Now, she has won the race as a trainer, conditioning TW Political Beach to victory in 17.610 seconds.

TW A Political Beach began from post nine and was responsive to Jockey Diego Villamil Bocanegra in the initial stages of the 350-yard dash. She had a clean break and was untouched throughout the entire sprint. As the wire neared, she drew clear of the field of nine for the win by one and three-quarters lengths. Kissin Jessy and Saul Lopez finished second in a four-horse photo with Provocotiv and German Rodriguez grabbing the third spot.

“This is pretty cool to win this race as a jockey and a trainer,” said Perez. “I don’t have a lot of words right now. I’m so excited to get this win, but it wouldn’t happen without the crew, and my kids work hard for the barn. And my husband (Saul Perez) has always believed in me. I get this from my mom (Julie Veltman), and she’s here today. I wouldn’t be here without her.”

TW A Political Beach was the favorite in the field, paying $4.00 for the win. The freshman daughter of Apollitical Jess is a homebred from the Tammy and Tom Wylie breeding operation. The sorrel filly now has three wins in a row from four career starts. The race was just completed before rain arrived at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The winning connections of TW A Political Beach.
© Coady Media

“She (TW A Political Beach) was onery when she was young,” said Tammy Wylie. “She was so nasty in the field, so it’s good to see her do well on the track. She would not have won this race if everyone hadn’t taken such good care of her.”

TW Apolitical Beach increased her bankroll to more than $130,000. She is a half-brother to Wylie’s three-year-old stakes standout TW Streakin Cowboy.

“She (TW Apolitical Beach) was awesome today,” added Tom Wylie. “This is a great crew to work with, and Natasha (Perez) is like family.”

Kissin Jessy closed from near the back of the field to finish second, earning $38,904. The sorrel filly by Kiss My Hocks out of Joyful Jessy, by Apollitical Jess, was bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch LLC and is owned by Pamela Brickley Hann, Lisa Cunningham, and Ruby Huggins.

Trained by Anthony Cunningham and ridden by Saul Lopez, Kissin Jessy was a $78,000 purchase at the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale and now sports a career record of four starts, one win, one second, one third, and $48,474 in earnings.

Provocotiv finished a game third, settling for the show spot by a head while just a nose ahead of fourth-place finisher Texas Swagger 123. The sorrel filly by Jess Different out of Apollitical Regard, by Apollitical Jess, was bred in Texas by Cox-Lane LLC and races for Quarter Shots, LLC and Ryleigh Fisher. German Rodriguez handled both the training and riding duties A $17,500 graduate of the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, she has now earned $30,552.

Texas Swagger 123 finished fourth, followed by Valiant Kiss in fifth, Red Sleeve sixth, Temptstepper Z seventh, and Blood Worthee eighth. Scratched from the Heartland Futurity Final were Apollitical Fast, Favorite Kiss 43, Dangerous Carolina, and Pretty Innocent.

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
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