SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022) – It’s very evident Head Patron loves Horseshoe Indianapolis. The sophomore gelding is now five for six over two years of racing and adds the $126,000 QHRAI Derby to his collection of wins during the third annual Indiana Champions Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis featuring purses more than $1 million.
Head Patron was one of three in the race for Horseshoe Indianapolis’ all-time leading trainer Randy Smith, and he was the longest shot of the trio. Starting from post 10, the chestnut son of Zoomin for Bux was alert and ready to go when the gates opened. Jockey James Flores, who won the $2.9 million All American Futurity earlier this year, was aboard for the ride and steered the gelding straight to the finish line for the win. The duo won the stakes race in a comfortable one and one-half length advantage over Scandylous and Roman Cruz from the inside. One Night Too Long, another entrant for Smith ridden by German Rodriguez, finished third.
Head Patron was detected as a good bet by several patrons, lowering his morning line odds of 12-1 down to 2.5 to 1 for the race with the horse paying $7.00 for the win. He was a winner in the trials leading up to the QHRAI Derby, turning in the fourth fastest time heading into the final. The Missouri bred is owned by Brant Barley and bred by Jon and Brant Barley. He now has in excess of $200,000 on his card.
“I want to thank the team behind this horse,” said Flores, who has been aboard Head Patron in four of his five wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. “It seems like every time he gets to Randy, he does well, and he likes it here. He likes the surface and he’s happy here. I think he ran his best race today.”
Flores also noted the assistant starter helped him get a good start, which catapulted him to the stakes win, his second at Horseshoe Indianapolis, adding the victory to the Governor’s Stakes during last year’s Indiana Champions Day.
“I have to thank the assistant starter because he had his feet squared up and ready to go,” added Flores. “I want to thank the owners, too, for giving me this opportunity to ride this horse. I always enjoy coming up to Horseshoe Indianapolis to ride.”
Photos by Coady Photography
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