QHRAI SSA Futurity, Derby featured on All-Quarter Horse Day

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 31, 2021) – Ten races will be featured on the fourth All-Quarter Horse Day set for Saturday, Sept. 4 at Indiana Grand. The program will be capped off by three finals, including the $191,747 Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) Stallion Service Auction (SSA) Futurity and the $108,591 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby. First post for the card is 10 a.m.

The 22nd running of the QHRAI Futurity, slated as the ninth race on the card, features Botticelli Beach, who overcame a bad stumble at the start to still recover and score the win in her trial. The freshman filly by Escondido Beach is three for four in 2021, including a win in the $190,000 Gordon Mobley Futurity. The grey filly is owned and trained by Claudio Barraza and will be ridden by Erik Esqueda from post eight in the 10-horse final.

Joining Botticelli Beach as a favorite is High Rolling Seize, the quickest qualifier from the trials. The Seize the Win gelding has won three of five starts in 2021 and was second to Botticelli Beach in the Gordon Mobley Futurity. Glenn Graff owns and bred the gelding with Matt Frazier, who also trained the gelding’s father, Seize the Win, handles the conditioning. Shanley Jackson comes in to ride from post two at odds of 2-1.

The entire field for the QHRAI SSA Futurity Final, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Bye Bye B Train (Jose Ruiz, 12-1); High Rolling Seize (Shanley Jackson, 2-1); Zack James (Oscar Macias, 6-1); Count Down (Giovani Vasquez-Gomez, 20-1); Jesses Beach (Berkley Packer, 30-1); Kiss Me at Midnight (Sammy Mendez, 6-1); Prize Kiss (L.D. Martinez, 15-1); Botticelli Beach (Erik Esqueda, 9-5); Fabulous Barbara (Edgar Diaz, 30-1); and Ravin Stone (Rolando Pina, 20-1). Estimated post time for the QHRAI SSA Futurity is 2:00 p.m.

Also featured on the card is the 22nd running of the QHRAI SSA Derby, slated as the 10th and final race. Beach Blast has won four of five this season and has been tagged as the early morning line favorite. The Escondido Beach gelding is on a four-race win streak from the Randy Smith Stable. James Flores comes in to ride from post one at odds of 3-5. He is owned by Keith Bode and Brock Hutchinson.

WH Imastreakinbeach is the second choice on the morning line at odds of 6-1. He was the quickest qualifier from the trials for trainer Erin Thompson and owner Thomas Wylie. Jose Ruiz will ride from post five.

The entire field for the QHRAI SSA Derby Final, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Beach Blast (James Flores, 3-5); Flyn (Berkley Packer, 30-1); WRs Raise the Bar (German Rodriguez, 12-1); Stone Lake (L.D. Martinez, 12-1); WH Imastreakinbeach (Jose Ruiz, 6-1); AA Storm the Mozoomo (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 30-1); Up Town J Ray (Rolando Pina, 30-1); Cartel Creek (Shanley Jackson, 10-1); Fire the Cartel (Sammy Mendez, 15-1); and Jess Bringin It On (Erik Esqueda, 10-1).

The 13th running of the $84,200 Bob Woodard Memorial Classic is also featured on the card as the eighth race. The event for older Indiana bred Quarter Horses is headed by Valiantinecandyrocks from post five. The five-year-old Valiant Hero mare comes into the race off an impressive score in the $84,000 Indiana Grand Classic during the last All-Quarter Horse day. Owned by Tammy and Lance Finlinson, Valiantinecandyrocks begins from post five at odds of 9-5 under the direction of trainer Randy Smith and jockey Sammy Mendez.

The entire field for the Bob Woodard Memorial Classic, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Beach Cartel (Shanley Jackson, 8-1); Hooked on Jordan (Jose Beltran, 20-1); El Aviador (Edgar Diaz, 30-1); Beach Mercedes (German Rodriguez, 9-2); Valiantinecandyrocks (Sammy Mendez, 9-5); Jess Z Bob (Oscar Macias, 30-1); Beach Benny (Rolando Pina, 15-1); Beach Bum Eddie (Francisco Quintero, 8-1); and Jess A Flyin Beach (L.D. Martinez, 2-1).

The All-Quarter Horse racing program will be followed by the first Cornhole Derby, featuring teams vying for $1,000 in prize money. The event will take place on the track immediately following the races with the top team of two going home with $500. Other events scheduled for the day will be a fundraiser for the Shelbyville High School Chorale Department, selling sno cones and cotton candy.

Photos by Coady Photography