RR Lotta Runforrobyn breaks maiden in Mari Hulman George Overnight Stakes

RR Lotta Runforrobyn had a lot of speed Thursday in his quest for the title of the $34,000 Mari Hulman George. Ridden by Saul Lopez, the two-year-old romped home in a time of 17.677 seconds for his first career trip to the winner's circle at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

RR Lotta Runforrobyn began from post seven and was the first call from the gate. He kept the field to his heels down the lane before increasing his advantage late in the race for the win by one and one-half lengths. Gringoo and Martin Munoz kept on grinding to the wire from the far outside for the second place spot over Fyre in the Sky and Aron Hunt long the inside for third.

RR Lotta Runforrobyn was unnoticed in the field, paying $18.60 for the win. The freshman son of Favorite Cartel is owned by Pam Hann’s A Win Investments and trained by Tony Cunningham. It was the colt’s fourth start for his connections who purchased him for $80,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale last fall.

“We loved his bottom side and we saw him going into the ring,” recalled Cunningham. “We walked up to see how much he was going to bring and thought he’d bring a lot more. I bid one time and got him. Then, I was worried I missed something and something was wrong with him but there wasn’t. He’s just been slow to develop, sort of like Prize Kiss (another stakes winning two-year-old for Cunningham and Hann). He can run, he’s always shown that, he’s just now coming along.”

The race was named in honor of Mari Hulman George, who was instrumental in the early years of Quarter Horse racing in the state of Indiana. She bred, raised, and raced many Quarter Horses from her farm, Circle S Ranch, in Terre Haute.

George was inducted into the Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Fame and is honored annually with a stakes race named in her honor during Indiana Derby Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Horseshoe Indianapolis Classic

The talent of Tachas Secret has always been in the forefront. The multiple stakes winner added another title to her credentials Thursday in the 22^nd running of the $85,560 Horseshoe Indianapolis Classic.

Ridden by Fernando Morin, the four-year-old mare covered the 400-yard dash in a time of 19.656 to earn a speed rating of 101 for the event.

The race was delayed when a horse became fractious in the gate and all runners were backed up. This placed concern in both trainer Ricardo Martinez and owner Chris Duke, as they didn’t have particularly good luck when the same situation had happened before.

“She (Tachas Secret) had some issues before when they backed out,” said Martinez. “Once she’s in there, she stands well. But when they backed her out and put her back in, she didn’t stand well and didn’t break well. But today when they put her back in, she broke sharp.”

Tachas Secret (photo) was one of the first out of the gate from post seven and grabbed an early advantage as Classy Looking Chick and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez were pursuing her from the outside. RK Lady Dana and Francisco Quintero were also holding their ground along the inside. As the field got closer to the wire, Tachas Secret hit another gear and lengthened her advantage to win by one length over Classy Looking Chick. RK Lady Dana was the victor of a photo for third.

Tachas Secret earned her second win in four starts for 2024, paying $3.00 for the win as the favorite of the field. The daughter of Indiana’s most underrated stallion, Habits Secret, who was also campaigned by Martinez, is owned by Duke Racing LLC. She is now eight for 16 in her career with more than $267,000 to her credit. Martinez has campaigned her during her entire career and knew early on she was special.

“She’s sound, and that is the most important thing in a horse,” explained Martinez. “She has stayed in the same stall since she came into train. She is always relaxed and seems to be better.”

When decisions are made for the next race, Martinez leans on Duke for the calls.

“We have her entered in the Hoosier Park Classic and nominated into the Indiana Championships this year,” added Duke. “We will see how she is at the end of the year before we decide if we’ll keep racing her but she’s sound. Today was her best race of the year. She ran straight and she ran strong.”

 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.

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