Apollitical Mission accomplishes assignment as top qualifier in Leader of the Class Sale Futurity Trials at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Apollitical Mission accomplished his assignment as the fastest qualifier on the night, posting a time of :18.115 to lead the top 10 to the final.

The dynamic duo of Jockey Rolando Pina and Trainer Tim Eggleston are back, sweeping both trials for the Leader of the Class Sale Futurity Trials. Beach First and Apollitical Mission both broke their maidens in their respective trials to advance to the Final set for Thursday, Sept. 12 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Apollitical Mission accomplished his assignment as the fastest qualifier on the night, posting a time of :18.115 to lead the top 10 to the final. The freshman gelded son of The Transmission got out of the gate well for Pina and was in mid pack during the early stages of the 350-yard dash. In the final half of the sprint, Apollitical Mission came to life, rallying home for the win by one-half length over MG Fresca and Eduardo Luna. Coach Pete, ridden by Juan Marquez for Eggleston, finished another neck back in third.

“This horse is one of my favorites,” acknowledged Pina. “I’ve liked him from the very start. He is one of those that cooperates with everything you ask him to do. He can be a little lazy around the barn, and he takes forever to get going, but once he does, he has a lot of speed.”

Apollitical Mission was making his fourth career start, paying $2.80 as the favorite of the field. He is owned by Phillip Harrison, son of longtime iconic Quarter Horse owner-breeder Walter “Dick” Harrison, who passed away this past winter. The younger Harrison has picked up the reins to the family’s involvement in racing and now has a winner, his first as an owner.

“It’s really nice that Phil (Harrison) has continued on with the horses after the passing of Dick (Harrison),” said Eggleston. “This horse just keeps getting better and better. I think he’s going to be a really nice horse as he gets older.”

Eggleston also enjoyed a first with Beach First in the first trial. Also ridden by Pina, the sorrel son of Escondido Beach was making only his second start and got out of the gate in the center of the track on top of the field. He kept his speed going in the early stages before hitting another gear and pulling away to a two and one-quarter length win over Drinkinatacartelbar and L.D. Daniel Martinez along the inside. Itsa Big Secret and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez finished third. Time of the sprint was :18.328 to rank fourth on the list of finalists for Beach First.

“He (Beach First) is still learning,” noted Pina. “He felt lost early in the race and was running in spurts. When I switched to the left hand, he seemed to understand what I wanted him to do, and he took off.”

Beach First, bred by Sheri Miller who stands Escondido Beach, Indiana’s top Quarter Horse stallion, was a bit of a surprise at the windows, paying $15.40 for the win. Gregg Farris owns the gelding.

“Both of these horses are nice horses and easy to train,” added Eggleston. “Horses like this make my job easy, and they also make it fun for everyone who works with them. That’s what we like.”

The field for the Leader of the Class Sale Futurity Final, in order of time with jockey, includes: Apollitical Mission (:18.115, Rolando Pina); MG Fresca (:18.191, Eduardo Diaz); Coach Pete (:18.248, Juan Marquez); Beach First (:18.328, Rolando Pina); Hez Secret Rocks (:18.481, Erik Esqueda); R Boy Jess (:18.611, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); Booms Zoomin Bayou (:18.637, Hugo Macias); Drinkinatacartelbar (:18.724, L.D. Martinez); Itsa Big Secret (:18.774, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); and LA Spirit Moves Me (:19.064, Hugo Macias). Trainer Jessi Vazquez saddles four for the final (R Boy Jess, Booms Zoomin Bayou, Itsa Big Secret, LA Spirit Moves Me) while Eggleston saddles three (Apollitical Mission, Coach Pete, Beach First).