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SHELBYVILLE, IN–AUGUST 10, 2024–Trainer Ricardo Martinez set the bar with Runninagainstdwind in the second of seven trials for the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction (SSA) Futurity with 61 total entrants. Then, another of Martinez's horses, Killin Time, claimed the top spot in the final trial. His performance leads the way into the upcoming Futurity final, which will be showcased as a Restricted Grade 3 event. This will be the first graded stakes for Quarter Horse racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, set for Saturday, August 31.

Killin Time and Martin Munoz began from post two in the full field of 10 and got a great break. The freshman filly was steady throughout, tracking DNA Politicalfighter to her inside, who led the entire sprint. In the final strides, she was able to move up and move in for the win of the 350-yard dash by a head over DNA Politicalfighter and Diego Villamil Bocanegra, who turned in the second fastest time on the day. Sloww Downn and L.S. Martinez finished third. The time of the sprint was :17.852.

Killin Time was making her first appearance at Horseshoe Indianapolis after only one start at Sam Houston, so local racing fans didn’t have a lot to go by on her past performance. Therefore, she was overlooked at the windows, paying $10.20 for the win.

The Lota PYC black filly is a homebred from Whiting Ranch in Texas out of Ms Haulin Chic by Dominyun. She is now one for two and only one of two fillies headed to the QHRAI SSA Futurity final, joined by Flashy Beach DHD. It was her first start for trainer Ricardo Martinez.

“We’ve had her quite a while and had time to work with her,” noted Martinez. “I was a little nervous saddling her because her full brother (Kadillaking) flipped in the paddock and was scratched earlier, so I wasn’t sure what to expect since this was the first time saddling her, but she was great. She’s a nice filly.”

Martinez and Munoz also teamed up for a win with Runninagainstdwind in the trials to secure the third spot on the final leaderboard. The lightly raced son of Uncle D broke well and took over the top spot early from the center of the track, striding out to a two-length advantage at the wire in :17.893. Paradise Beach and Edgar Diaz finished second in a photo with Home Team and L.S. Martinez.

Runninagainstdwind was a mild surprise for his backers, paying $9.60 for the win. The Oklahoma bred hails from H & E Ranch and is owned by Martinez. The sorrel gelding out of Theslatesclean by Corona Cocktail earned his first win in his fourth career start.

“This horse has been running well, but he got smashed all over the place in the last futurity final,” observed Martinez. “I wasn’t surprised he came back to run well today.”

Joining Killin Time and Runninagainstdwind in the top 10 were Jess A Beach Man and Edgar Diaz, who secured the final spot in the top 10 with their trial win in 18.109. The Escondido Beach gelding was in contention the entire way, grinding his way to the wire for the win by a nose in a three-way photo. Wildcat Lover and Rolando Pina finished second over Can D Girl and Giovani Vazquez Gomez.

Jess a Beach Man earned his second win in four starts. Earlier this year, he also won the Gordon Mobley Futurity trials as he enters the QHRAI SSA Futurity final for owner Alejandro Fuentes Garcia and trainer Claudio Barraza. Being the final qualifier on the list doesn’t have a downside for Barraza, who recently won the Gordon Mobley Futurity final with Zoomin Feature, ranked seventh on the list of finalists.

“He (Jess, a Beach Man) is a high-energy horse,” said Barraza. “But he is calming down. He didn’t break too good today, but he closed really hard. I have always liked this horse and have a lot of faith in him.”

The top 10 qualifiers for the QHRAI SSA Futurity Final, in order of time with jockey includes Killin Time (:17.852, Martin Munoz); DNA Politicalfighter (:17.867, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); Runninagainstdwind (:17.893, Martin Munoz); HF Just Reno (:17.929, Rolando Pina); AP Political Patriot (:17.991, Francisco Quintero); Flashy Beach DHD (:18.029, Francisco Quintero); Jefris Gold Wagon (:18.042, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); Beachin Famous (:18.072, Rolando Pina); Escondido Gold (:18.083, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); and Jess a Beach Man (:18.109, Edgar Diaz). Natasha Perez will saddle three in the final (DNA Politicalfighter, Jefris Gold Wagon, Escondido Gold) while Martinez saddles two (Killin Time, Runninagainstdwind) along with Tim Eggleston (HF Just Reno, Beachin Famous) who will also saddle two.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $212,170 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity [RG3] trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be run on August 31, 2024.

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The afternoon featured 12 races on the program with QHRAI trackside for giveaways and promotions featuring a visit from the Ohio, Michigan, Indiana (OMI) Quarter Horse Queen Riata Rouch of Hartford City, Ind. Riata is a former participant in the QHRAI Youth Racing Experience held each season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Riata is headed to Saint-Mary-Of-The-Woods in Terre Haute, Ind., this fall and will be included in the first-ever Racetrack Management program at their facility.

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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
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