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SHELBYVILLE, IN–AUGUST 6, 2024–As trainer Tony Cunningham awaited the photo of the $34,000 Paul Martin Overnight Stakes, he knew one of his horses had the win, but he didn’t know which one got to the wire first. It turned out Relentlessly Special and HG Favorite Energy each shared the title with a dead heat for the win.

The Cunningham pair started out of the gate side by side in posts eight and nine with Relentlessly Special guided by L.D. “Daniel” Martinez from post eight with HG Favorite Special and Francisco Quintero starting from post nine. Both horses got a good break, with Relentlessly Special getting the early advantage along with several to his inside, including Tin Knocker and Martin Munoz.

Midway through the lane, Tin Knocker appeared to gain a short advantage but Relentlessly Special came right back on him in the final strides. But it was HG Favorite Energy posing the biggest threat on the far outside as he closed in late. In the final stride, HG Favorite Energy got even with Relentlessly Special as the two hit the wire together for the win, along with Tin Knocker and Martin Munoz in a tight photo that placed him third a neck back of the top pair.

Relentlessly Special and HG Favorite Energy are both owned by Lisa Cunningham. The Cunninghams also purchased both three-year-olds from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale, with Lisa picking out Relentlessly Special on her own. The Hes Relentless gelding won last year's $148,000 Heartland Futurity and the $157,000 Governor’s Stakes. It was his fifth win in nine starts, and he has never finished off the board in his career.

HG Favorite Energy also won another stakes race, the Horseshoe Indianapolis Juvenile Challenge Stakes, last fall. The Favorite Cartel gelding is now four for nine in his career, with the win in the Martin Overnight Stakes his first of 2024. Both horses have surged over their purchase prices at the Heritage Place Yearling Sales for the Cunninghams.

HG Favorite Energy was a longer shot on the board, paying $10.00 for the win, while stablemate Relentlessly Special returned $6.80 to his backers.

Hg Favorite Energy, a stakes-winning son of Favorite Cartel, was bred in Oklahoma by Stacy and Randy Hill from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Miss Energy P. He has earned $73,141 in nine starts.

Also, a multiple stakes winner, Monty McNair bred Relentlessly Special in Oklahoma. The Hes Relentless gelding is out of the Country Chicks Man mare Specialscountrychick. Relentlessly Special has earned $212,436.

Tin Knocker finished a neck back in the blanket finish to earn $3,600 for owner Gerardo Corral. Trainer Ricardo Martinez named jockey Martin Munoz to ride the multiple stakes-placed Habits Secret gelding from the Favorite Cartel mare Favorite Sissy. Bred in Indiana by Carlos Ramos, Tin Knocker has earned $114,923.

Goodtimefreddash, Sin Tachas Secret, Revvs Cowboy, Jls Hide The Shine, Thunder Cartel, Aj Pure Gold, and Beach Bikini completed the field.

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The Martin Overnight Stakes is one of six implemented two years ago at Horseshoe Indianapolis. This season, all six were named in honor of those who have impacted Indiana Quarter Horse racing. No one fits that bill more than Paul Martin, longtime owner, breeder, and trainer in the Hoosier State.

Martin, the former president of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI), passed away in the spring of 2023 after a brave battle against cancer. He was inducted into the Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Fame last fall and is also a member of the QHRAI Hall of Distinction. He had numerous horses excel during his years as a trainer, including WH Design by Dash and HH CJ Shake, both of which are among the top six all-time leading Quarter Horses for the state of Indiana with more than $435,000 each on their cards.

The 22nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Thursday, Nov. 14. Racing is held Monday through Thursday at 2:10 p.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find the track on Social Media @HSIndyRacing.

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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). ©2024 Caesars License Company, LLC.