Escondido Gold, won the $35,000 Air Born Leader Overnight Stakes on Thursday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

By Tammy Knox

SHELBYVILLE, IN–AUGUST 6, 2026–It appeared Trainer Natasha Perez was getting the win in the third running of the $35,000 Air Born Leader Overnight Stakes Thursday, with TW Trumps Secrets, but it was stablemate Escondido Gold and Alberto Ceron who came charging up at the end to win the race, giving Perez a one-two finish in the 350-yard dash.

Escondido Gold got a perfect break from post seven. It took the gelding a few strides to get into full gear as TW Trumps Secrets and Diego Villamil Bocanegra vied for the top spot from the center of the track with Nachor Secret and Martin Munoz battling along the inside.

In the second half of the sprint, Escondido Gold came to life, swooping in to score the victory with a big finish for the win over TW Trumps Secrets. HF Firecracker and Giovani Vazquez Gomez finished third in the sprint timed in :17.665 seconds.

Escondido Gold paid $16.60 for the win. The four-year-old son of Escondido Bech is owned by Robert Godsey and was bred and raised by Tom Wylie. It was his first win of 2026 and his seventh overall, adding to a bankroll that now exceeds $155,000.

It was his second stakes victory of his career and the second time Ceron had been aboard, guiding him to a second place finish in the Easys Night Beat Overnight Stakes the previous start.

Tw Trump’s second place effort improved his earnigs to $76,711 with a record of 2-4-3 from 13 starts. This was his third start in stakes competition this season, including a second place finish in the Carter Riley Stakes and he was a finalist in the Easys Night Beat Stakes. The 7-time stakes finalist is still looking for his first stakes win.

Trainer Natasha Perez saddled the four-year-old son of Mr Apollitical Dash for owner/breeder Thomas Wylie. Tw Trump was bred in Indiana out of Eyes So Blue by Mr Eye Opener.

Ridden by Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, Hf Firecracker placed fourth but was bumped to third after post-time favorite Nachor Secret was disqualified to seventh.

The four-year-old daughter of Escondido Beach $19,415 in earnings from ten starts and the third place effort marks his first black type score. Jessica Vazquez owns and trains Hf Firecracker, who was bred by Randy Haffner out of Firebawl by Jess Zoomin.

Rock Hard Love, Mr Michel, Beach First and Nachor Secret round out the order of finish.

The race is named in honor of uber-tough Air Born Leader, who scored numerous stakes victories in Indiana with nearly $500,000 on his card when he retired in 2016. Randy Thompson bred and owned the Leader of the Class grey gelding during his career.

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.

DUE TO A WEBSITE OUTAGE, NO PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FROM TODAY’S RACING PROGRAM. A Previous photo of Escondido Gold is provided.

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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