Beach Mercedes cruises in Hoosier Park Classic

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2020) – Beach Mercedes has been a stable standout for Trainer Randy Smith from the very beginning. A winner in every year of her career, the Escondido Beach mare is getting better with age, scoring a big win against her male counterparts in the 24th running of the Hoosier Park Classic Saturday, Oct. 3 at Indiana Grand. The race is one of three stakes from the inaugural season of pari-mutuel racing held at Hoosier Park in 1997, starting off with a purse of $10,000 and now offering a purse of $84,700 in 2020.

Starting from post seven in the eight-horse lineup, Beach Mercedes matched stablemate Beach Cartel stride for stride on the outside early on as Stinkin Rich, Indiana’s all-time leading Quarter Horse in earnings, grabbed the early lead from the inside with jockey Shanley Jackson aboard. As the 400-yard sprint unfolded, both Beach Cartel and Beach Mercedes were side by side and began to pick up momentum. Beach Mercedes had the biggest stride late in the race, scoring the win with Juan Marquez aboard by one-half length over Beach Cartel and Sammy Mendez in a time of :20.108. Stinkin Rich held gamely for third.

The one-two punch of Beach Mercedes and Beach Cartel gave trainer Randy Smith and owner-breeder Sheri Miller an exacta in the race. The finish also prompted a unique winner’s circle photo with both horses standing nose to nose for the victory celebration.

“As soon as the race was over and I saw both horses finished one-two, I called Sheri (Miller) and asked her if she wanted both horses in the win photo, and she thought it was a good idea,” said Smith. “You couldn’t ask for better owners. Sheri and Glen (Miller) know the business and know how to do everything right.”

Beach Mercedes scored her ninth career win in her 28th career start. Her earnings are now in excess of $266,000. Both horses are by Miller’s stallion, Escondido Beach, who has been Indiana’s leading stallion for the past several years. Beach Mercedes is a good representation of just how dominant the Escondido Beach line is in Indiana.

“You couldn’t ask for a better horse,” said Smith of Beach Mercedes. “She wants to race, and she tends to get better with age. She stays sound and she’s just special. Like Martha (Claussen) said (in the winner’s circle post-race interview), you don’t see fillies and mares beat the boys that often, but she’s one that can do it.”

Cassidy Morgan, 2020 Indiana Quarter Horse Queen was trackside to make the special winner's circle presentation to the connections of Beach Mercedes. Morgan, a native of Williamsport, Ind., is currently a junior at Purdue University studying Animal Science. She is a former World Youth Champion in Western Pleasure. Due to COVID-19 this year, the National Competiton associated with the Quarter Horse Congress was canceled, so Morgan's reign as Indiana Quarter Horse Queen will extend through 2021.

The win in the Hoosier Park Classic was just one of seven on the card for Smith, who is a native of Broughton, Ill. Smith matched his own record of seven wins on one racing program, a feat he accomplished during the 2018 racing season. He is the only trainer of Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses to achieve that many wins in one day at Indiana Grand.

Photos by Coady Photography