Mr Michel sets track record in repeat win of Indiana Championship at Horseshoe Indianapolis

It was an amazing day of top horsepower in the state of Indiana for the fifth annual Indiana Champions Day presented by Indiana Breed Development.

The older horses took center stage in the $113,280 Indiana Championship with seven of the 10 starters possessing more than $100,000 on their career statistics. One of Indiana’s most fierce older horses this year was back to defend his title and he did it in a big way, setting a new track record for 440 yards in the process.

Mr Michel has been nothing but spectacular his entire career, showing his talent as a two year old. Under the direction of Claudio Barraza the entire time, the now five-year-old son of Kiss My Hocks continues with that same tenacity and brought his “A” game again in the race full of talented older horses, including two-time stakes winner WRs Valentino.

When the gate sprung open, Mr Michel and Edgar Diaz were on the far outside and didn’t appear to be a threat in the early stages. Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin were controlling the tempo from the center of the track with High Rolling Seize and Shanley Jackson keeping close.

Midway through the race, Mr Michel kicked into his usual late closing gear and went to work, moving the quickest in the final strides and nabbed Tachas Secret right at the wire by a neck for the win in 21.58 seconds.

High Rolling Seize finished third. The time eclipsed the previous track record set by WRs Valentino in 2022 in a time of 21.61 seconds. The race was his last as he moves into retirement for Gwen and Randy Williams at the age of eight.

Mr Michel was tagged as the favorite, paying $4.40 for the win. He was bred by Mark Michel in Indiana and is out of the stakes winning mare Lovemelikethat, who won several races during her career before becoming just as much of a success in the brood mare ranks.

Mr Michel won his eighth career stakes title for owner Alberto Valadez. He now has more than $531,000 on his card and moves into third place on the list of all-time leading Indiana bred Quarter Horses with his earnings tally.

“I watched the race from Albuquerque and really thought that the eight (Tachas Secret) was so far in front that she got him,” said Barraza through a phone interview with Martha Claussen, who was in attendance for Indiana Champions Day. “But he just kicked in almost exactly like he did last year. This horse has showed his talent ever since the beginning of his racing career and I actually think that he has always been a freak. Now we want to see if he can win this three times.”

Mr Michel has had an outstanding five-year-old campaign, winning four of six starts and more than $140,000 in 2024 alone. Edgar Diaz has ridden him in all but one of his starts since his three-year-old season. He now has six wins aboard the standout sprinter.

“He is a little heavy when he takes off but at the end of a race, he does his job,” said Diaz through translation following his win. “He is a very healthy and happy horse and he has no problems. He seems to get keep getting better and better every year. I think that’s why he stays so good.”

Barraza rarely misses one of Mr Michel’s races, but is at the Bank of America Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque racing a pair from his barn. He is currently in a tie for leading trainer this season at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Diaz is leading all Quarter Horse jockeys this season and will likely take home his first Indiana riding title at the conclusion of the meet Nov. 14.

Indiana Stallion Filly Division Handicap

Molly’s Potion and Sammy Bermudez turned in a perfect performance to remain undefeated in two starts in the $100,000 Indiana Stallion Filly Division Handicap. The filly was powerful in the final strides, winning easily in a time of 1:13.16.

Starting from post eight, Molly’s Potion (photo) left the gate in search of a spot up front, but not necessarily the top spot. Race favorite Miss Candela from the far outside hurried out for DeShawn Parker to join Seeyouinabit and Oscar Villareal in the initial stages of the six-furlong event. Bermudez tucked Molly’s Potion on the outside behind the top two heading toward the only turn of the six-furlong race.

As the field moved into the turn, so did Molly’s Potion. She moved up three wide and had a lot left for the stretch drive. Once the stretch arrived, she took over, blazing out to a four length advantage as she led the field down the stretch. At the wire, she was an eight-length winner in only her second career start. Liz’s Legacy and Eddie Perez moved up late for second followed by Spooky Ridge and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. for third.

Molly’s Potion paid $8.80 for the win. The two-year-old daughter of Pataky Kid is owned by Jorge Rivera-Castaner and trained by Dawn Fontenot. It was the first premier racing win for the owner-trainer partnership.

“I have a lot of my friends here today, and it makes this win more special,” said Fontenot. “And I want to thank Tony (Cunningham) for breaking this filly. He did an amazing job with her. And Sammy rode a remarkable race. I am just so happy right now.”

Bermudez is Fontenot’s son in law. They work well together with her small stable based at Horseshoe Indianapolis. This filly seems to have excelled beyond any of their hopes.

“I saw the 11 (Miss Candela) left the gate faster than me, and that was okay as I was hoping she would do that,” noted Bermudez, who is among the top eight jockeys at Horseshoe Indianapolis. “I was able to set in behind them and got a spot on the outside. When I asked her, she really responded, even more than I thought she would. She ran a great race today.”

Miss Roxie Little Futurity

WRs Mynameisrip was so impressive in the trials as the fastest qualifier, he garnered the position as the favorite in the Restricted Grade 3 16^th running of the $235,600 Miss Roxie Little Futurity. The freshman lived up to the billing as track announcer John G. Dooley said, “rip roaring his way home” with Juan Marquez aboard for the win, giving both himself and trainer Natasha Perez their first Graded Stakes victory.

Starting from post 10, when the gates opened, WRs Mynameisrip (photo) made an impact. He powered his way out of the gate and was in contention early with TW Trumps Secrets and Erik Esqueda, who held position along the inside.

As the race progressed through the 350-yard dash, WRs Mynameisrip found another gear and exploded by his opponents, cruising under the wire as a half-length winner under wraps for Marquez. Escondido Gold and Alonso Rivera finished second with TW Trumps Secrets holding ground inside for third.

WRs Mynameisrip paid $6.00 for the win. The Tarzanito black gelding is owned by Gwen and Randy Williams’ Williams Racing. Natasha Perez made her third start since acquiring the horse and is now three for three with the big homebred from Williams’ farm in LaCenter, Ky.

“I don’t even know what to think, I think I’m still in shock,” said an emotional Perez. “This horse has so much talent and I knew he had the talent, but to actually see him win is amazing. And, he’s just getting started. His future is so bright. It’s going to be a fun ride. I wouldn’t be here without this amazing team, including my husband (Saul Perez) and Diego (Villamil Bocanegra) and the other jockeys (including Marquez.) We are a family.”

The Miss Roxie Little Futurity was sporting the largest purse in the 16-year history of the race. It joins the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity held earlier this year as the first two Restricted Grade 3 races held for Indiana horses at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Governor’s Stake

Cowboy on the Fly and L.D. “Daniel” Martinez did everything perfect to move into the 28^th running of the $269,900 Governor’s Stake. They won their trial, but they had little notice in the final field as the duo rallied to a long shot win for the title which was the richest race ever held for an Indiana Quarter Horse race.

Cowboy on the Fly (photo) broke from post two and was in contention for the lead early on, holding his own along the inside during the 350-yard dash. He was joined by Whata Lota Boy and Martin Munoz on the inside with Chiln and Aron Hunt putting pressure on from the center of the track.

With only a few yards left in the race, Cowboy on the Fly hit another gear and moved away from his opponents, fending off a final late charge by Chiln for the win by a neck. Beachin Famous and Rolando Pina closed on the far outside for third. Time of the sprint was 17.794 seconds.

Cowboy on the Fly was the second longest shot on the board, paying $49.40 to win. He was the fourth fastest qualifier from the trials for the Tony Cunningham barn and is now two for six in his young career.

The Governor’s Stake has quite a history in the state of Indiana. It was the very first pari-mutuel Quarter Horse race held in 1997 at Hoosier Park. Won by Easys Night Beat and Carter Riley, the race was contested for $10,000, showing the growth of the race. Cunningham actually competed in that first race in 1997, finishing second to Easys Night Beat with Chad a Hoochee CRS. This is the third straight title for the Cunningham barn in the Governor’s Stake.

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