SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 5, 2019) – Two trials featuring 18 horses were on the track for a chance of advancing to the $100,000 QHRAI Derby set for Saturday, Oct. 26. La Jolla Diamante earned the top spot with his victory in :20.060 to lead the way to the final.
Starting from post three, La Jolla Diamante got out of the gate quickly for Juan Galvan and led the field of eight in the early stages of the 400-yard dash. As the finish line neared, so did Beaus Coupe and Fernando Morin to put in a challenge at the end, but La Jolla Diamante held strong for the win by one-half length. Beaus Coupe was disqualified for interference during the race, moving Fast Prize Six and Sergio Ramirez up to second while Hospitaliti and Shanley Jackson rounded out the top three.
Owned by Porfirio Carrasco, also the breeder, La Jolla Diamante earned his third win in six starts this year for Trainer Claudio Barraza. The First Moonflash colt was lightly raced as a two-year-old and has competed in all eight lifetime starts at Indiana Grand.
Pritty and Jose Beltran were winners in the other QHRAI Derby Trial. The duo grabbed the lead early from the inside post one and was too tough to catch, scoring the win by one length in a time of :20.110. WRs Valentino and Berkley Packer finished second over Worth Doing Right and L.D. Martinez, who was in contention the entire way and finished third.
Pritty, a chestnut daughter of Coronado Cartel, is owned by Miguel Lechuga and trained by Ricardo Martinez. It was her first win of 2019 in her fourth outing. Pritty now has four career wins and earnings in excess of $63,000.
The entire field for the QHRAI Derby Final, in qualifying order with jockey and time, includes: La Jolla Diamante (Juan Galvan, :20.060); Pritty (Jose Beltran, :20.110); Fast Prize Six (Sergio Ramirez, :20.263); WRs Valentino (Berkley Packer, :20.281); Worth Doing Right (L.D. Martinez, :20.334); Hospitaliti (Shanley Jackson, :20.347); Miss Eysa Senator (Berkley Packer, :20.360); My Favorite Legacy (L.D. Martinez, :20.361); Lethal Toll (German Rodriguez, :20.415); and Ja B Valiant (Juan Cruz, :20.461). Tony Cunningham will saddle three for the final (Worth Doing Right, My Favorite Legacy, Lethal Toll) while Randy Smith will saddle two (WRs Valentino and Miss Eysa Senator) and Ricardo Martinez will saddle two (Pritty, Fast Prize Six).
The QHRAI Derby will join the Miss Roxie Little Futurity and the Governor’s Stake on the final night of all-Quarter Horse racing for the 2019 racing season. The evening, tagged as Quarter Horse Stakes Night, will offer purses in excess of $450,000. Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst, will be trackside to assist with the evening’s activities. The Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) will feature $2 race wagers to the first 100 people plus long-sleeved shirt giveaways throughout the night. First post for the special evening of racing for the sprinters is 6:15 p.m.
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