SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022) – One Night Too Long and German Rodriguez made their presence felt early in the final trial for the QHRAI Derby, posting a time of :19.972 to lead all qualifiers for the $100,000 QHRAI Derby Final set for Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 29.
Starting from the center of the track, One Night Too Long was on point for an early lead and battled Rock Candy Blue and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez from their inside before grabbing the win by a neck. Kiss Me at Midnight and Juan Marquez finished third.
One Night Too Long is owned by Jeff Wiley. The three-year-old sorrel filly by Cap De Capi was purchased for $20,000 by Owner Jeff Wiley at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in January. Randy Smith trains the filly, who is now three for five in 2022 since joining the Smith barn.
The second fastest qualifier of the day was awarded to Head Patron, also trained by Randy Smith. Guided by James Flores, the three-year-old gelded son of Zoomin for Bux had a lead early on in the 400-yard dash before inching away from his opponents for the win in :20.185. Jess Dashingly and Rolando Pina finished second over Tresjetdash and Cristian Esqueda for third.
Head Patron is a homebred owned by Brant Barley and was bred by Jon and Brant Barley of Missouri. It was his second straight win after scoring a victory in an overnight stake in his previous race. He is now five for 12 in his career and boosted his career earnings to more than $128,000 with the win. He teamed up with Flores to win the $146,000 Governor’s Stakes last fall on Indiana Champions Day.
The other trial was won by Incredible and Rolando Pina. The Corona Cartel colt led from the inside gate to wire for the win in :20.234. Scandylous and James Flores was a head back in second followed by Hejfund and Edgar Diaz for third.
The top 10 advancing to the QHRAI Final, with jockey and times, includes: One Night Too Long (German Rodriguez, :19.972); Rock Candy Blue (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, :20.007); Kiss Me at Midnight (Juan Marquez, :20.068); Head Patron (James Flores, :20.185); Screenshot (Jose Ruiz, :20.199); Incredible (Rolando Pina, :20.234); Scandylous (James Flores, :20.247); Jess Dashingly (Rolando Pina, :20.312); Hejfund (Edgar Diaz, :20.316); and Hidden Prize (Edgar Diaz, :20.344). Trainer Randy Smith had three of the top four fastest qualifiers for the final (One Night Too Long, Kiss Me at Midnight, Head Patron) while Tim Eggleston (Incredible, Jess Dashingly) and Librado Barraza (Hejfund, Hidden Prize) will both saddle two each for the final.
The QHRAI Derby will be one of three stakes’ races on the program for the third annual Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 29. Racing gets underway at Noon with four Thoroughbred stakes followed by Quarter Horse action to close out the program. Purses for the day will exceed $1 million. Other Quarter Horse stakes include the $150,000 Miss Roxie Little Futurity and the $100,000 Governor’s Stakes.
Photos by Coady Photography
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