Ridden by Christian Reyes, Time For A Hero (#4) wins his trial heat to the $30,000 added John Deere Horseshoe Indianapolis Juvenile Challenge and clocks fastest time.

© Coady Photography

SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 3, 2022–Two trials were held early Saturday morning on a rainy track for the $30,000 added John Deere Horseshoe Indianapolis Juvenile Challenge. The two fastest qualifiers to the 350-yard race for challenge enrolled two-year-olds came from trial #1.

Fastest qualifier Time For A Hero, ridden by Christian Reyes, made a stiff drive towards the wire but was able to close in late for a neck finish over A Preachers Daughter and her rider Giovani Vazquez-Gomez. 

Neither Time For A Hero nor A Preachers daughter were post-time favorites to win, so their first and second place victories paid $9.00 to win and $6.40 to show, respectively.

Trainer Natasha Perez saddled A Time For A Hero who clocked a 91 speed index in :17.889 seconds, which is his highest speed index to date. The son of champion sire Apollitical Blood broke his maiden earlier this year in the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge trials, but the John Deere Juvenile Challenge victory will be the first of four career starts that has earned him a ride to the finals. The earning from the trial win upped his bankroll to $18,037.

Breeders Shelby Hayden and Phillip Kowalski of Oklahoma sold Time For A Hero to his current owner Spencer Tunnell for $20,000 last year in the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The brown gelding is out of Jess Valiant by Valiant Hero.

Second fastest qualifier A Preachers Daughter has yet to break her maiden in her freshman campaign. Trainer Jessica Vazquez sent her off in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge trials and she clocked a 90 speed index in :19.918 seconds for the runner-up spot.

Bred by Muller Racing of Utah, A Preachers Daughter sold for $17,500 to her current owner Jose Manjarrez in last years Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The daughter of 2022’s #1 leading sophomore sire A Revenant is out of Time To Separate by Jazzing Hi.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $30,000 added John Deere Horseshoe Indianapolis Juvenile Challenge Trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be ran on September 22, 2022.

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The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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.  Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.