Cunningham pair dead heats in Paul Martin Overnight Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis

As trainer Tony Cunningham awaited the photo of the $34,000 Paul Martin Overnight Stakes, he knew one of his horses had the win. He just didn’t know which one got to the wire first Tuesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It turned out Relentlessly Special and HG Favorite Energy each shared the title with a dead heat for 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. Both three-year-olds also were purchased by the Cunninghams from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale with Lisa picking out Relentlessly Special on her own. The Hes Relentless gelding was a winner last year in the $148,000 Heartland Futurity as well as 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.

For HG Favorite Energy, it was also another stakes win for him as he won 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. Both horses were bred in Oklahoma.

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 made an impact on 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 22^nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through 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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