Mr Michel honored as Quarter Horse of the Meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Mr Michel is still going strong at the age of five. The sorrel son of Kiss My Hocks, named after his breeder Mark Michel, scored four wins in 2024, three of which were stakes victories, placing him above both Tres of Blood and Escondido Gold for the honor.

All three horses had four wins this season with Mr Michel separating the tie with the most purse earnings.

A standout from the start, Mr Michel is a former Indiana Quarter Horse of the Year recipient, winning four races at two years old capped off with a victory in the $198,000 Miss Roxie Little Futurity. He returned at three and four, winning stakes both seasons before dominating in the older ranks this year.

His biggest win was in the $113,000 Indiana Championship during Indiana Champions Day with regular pilot Edgar Diaz aboard. Claudio Barraza has trained the gelding his entire career for owner Alberto Valadez.

“He’s definitely the star of the stable,” noted Barraza. “He makes me look good. He’s a very special horse, that is for sure.”

Barraza is completing the best season of his career, conditioning horses to total purse earnings of just under $1 million at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He elevated his status this fall to Graded Stakes winning trainer with a win in the Grade 2 John Deere Juvenile Challenge at Albuquerque with Arbitro. That win for him, combined with his victories at Horseshoe Indianapolis placed him over the $1 million mark for the first time in his career with his horses.

Mr Michel was a big part of that success. As he continues to add to his bankroll, he is now among the top five all-time leading Indiana bred Quarter Horses for the state. He completes his five-year-old campaign with 13 wins in 26 career starts and more than $531,000 in career earnings.

He was a $17,500 purchase by Valadez from the QHRAI Speed Sale in 2020, proving to be a fabulous purchase for his connections.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.