Nachor Secret wins first trial of season at Horseshoe Indianapolis

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The first Quarter Horse trials of the season kicked off Thursday at Horseshoe Indianapolis to set up the final for the $99,200 Harley Greene Derby Final set for June 1.

The very first trial had special meaning for owner-trainer-breeder Ricardo Martinez, who saddled Nachor Secret (photo) to an open length victory.

“This win is a special one today because we lost his (Nachor Secret) mother earlier today at the farm,” said Martinez. “It was a rough morning. We did everything we could to save her. It’s very hard to lose a horse. We have another foal out of her, a filly, and I’ve already retired her, and we’ll use her as a brood mare.”

Martinez noted that he purchased the mare, Eyes a Favorite, a daughter of Favorite Cartel, from a sale and raced her a couple times at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He detected something wasn’t quite right, so they stopped with her.

“We could tell something wasn’t right and she had an eyesight problem,” added Martinez. “We finally figured out she couldn’t see well.”

Nachor Secret returned in the Harley Greene Derby Trials for his three-year-old debut and was impressive from gate to wire. Ridden by Martin Munoz, the son of Martinez’s standout sprinter Habits Secret rallied out of the gate early and was authoritative to repel his challengers, scoring the win by one and one-quarter lengths in 17.713 seconds.

Beach Shaker and Alonso Rivera finished second over Malibu Beach and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez for third.

Nachor Secret now has three career wins in seven starts and has only missed the board one time in those outings. Martinez sees a lot of potential in the gelding.

“He was a menace last year and we had to cut him (geld him),” said Martinez. “I can see a big difference in him this year. He is focusing a little better already. He had the winter off and that helped him too.”

Martinez has a deep history with the Harley Greene Derby. He won the event in 2019 with First Habits. He is another foal by Habits Secret, who Martinez campaigned to 10 wins and more than $330,000 before retiring him to stud at Midwest Equine and Veterinary Hospital in Trafalgar, Ind. The Graded Stakes placed stallion was ranked fifth among all freshman sires in the nation in 2018 from a small crop and continues to produce stakes winners each year.

The trials also brought back the return of 2023 Indiana Quarter Horse of the Year Red Headed Beach (photo), who was a winner by a short nose over Martinez’s Sin Tachas Secret and Munoz. Rolando Pina rides Red Headed Beach for owner Pattie Marshall and trainer Tim Eggleston. She is now seven for eight in her career and scored the win in 17.914 seconds as the second fastest qualifier behind Nachor Secret for the Greene Derby Final.

The final trial was another victory for Martinez and Munoz as they teamed up yet again with a son of Habit’s Secret. Tin Knocker (photo), owned by Gerardo Corral, took over in the final strides to score the win by a head bob over Ima Jess Dashing and Edgar Diaz in a time of 17.921. It was also the 2024 debut for Tin Knocker who paid $13.20 for the win.

The final field for the Harley Greene Derby, with jockey and time, includes: Nachor Secret (Martin Munoz, :17.713); Red Headed Beach (Rolando Pina, :17.914); Tin Knocker (Martin Munoz, :17.921); Sin Tachas Secret (Martin Munoz, :17.933); Ima Jess Dashing (Edgar Diaz, :17.940); Beach Shaker (Alonso Rivera, :17.953); Jess a Riot (Aron Hunt, :18.013); Malibu Beach (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, :18.036); Run the Beach (Diego Villamil Bocanegra, :18.073); and Beach Bay (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, :18.091).

Martinez will saddle three for the final (Nachor Secret, Tin Knocker, Sin Tachas Secret). Claudio Barraza saddles two (Ima Jess Dashing, Beach Shaker) along with Jessi Vazquez (Malibu Beach, Beach Bay).

The 22nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Nov. 14. Racing is held Monday through Thursday at 2:10 p.m. Six all Quarter Horse dates are set for 10:45 a.m. on the following Saturdays: June 1, June 29, July 20, Aug. 10, Aug. 31, and Oct. 5.

Indiana’s featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for July 6 with a first post time of noon.

For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.