SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 8, 2019) – Indiana Grand Racing & Casino will present the third night of al-Quarter Horse racing Saturday, Aug. 10 featuring five trials for the upcoming Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) Stallion Service Auction (SSA) Futurity and Derby. The nine-race card begins at 6:15 p.m.
Kicking off the evening of action will be three trials for the QHRAI SSA Futurity. Shakeitonthebeach is favored in the first trial at odds of 4-5 with Indiana Grand’s leading Quarter Horse Jockey Berkley Packer aboard. The Escondido Beach filly, owned and bred by Sheri Miller, comes into the trials off two straight wins in three career starts. The Randy Smith freshman starts from post five in the second race of the night.
Smith and Packer also team up for another freshman standout in the second trial, carded as the third race of the night, with Louisiana Lover. A gelded son of The Louisiana Cartel, Louisiana Lover also has two wins in three starts, just missing the win by a nose to Kissmelikethat in the $126,300 Jaguar Rocket in his last start. Owned by Chris Duke and Jack Laugle’s Dula Racing LLC, Louisiana Lover begins from post eight at odds of 9-5.
Smith will saddle the favorite in the third and final trial of the QHRAI SSA Futurity as Blue Eyed Newman has been tagged as the early morning line favorite in the fourth race of the night. Owned and bred by Gordon Timm, the Escondido Beach gelding also comes into the trials with two wins in three starts this season. Packer will ride from the outside post 10.
In QHRAI SSA Derby action, Smith will look to rebound with WRs Valentino, who was defeated by a head in his last start, the $76,480 Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby. The Mighty B Valiant gelding has not finished worse than second in seven career outings and was the winner of the QHRAI SSA Futurity last season. Packer guides WRs Valentino from the outside post nine as the 9-5 favorite.
The final trial of the QHRAI SSA Derby, set as race seven, features the return of Nacho Binez from the Ricardo Martinez barn. The Habits Secret gelding finished third in his last start in a three-way photo for the win in the $118,200 Blue River Derby. Also owned by Martinez, Nacho Binez starts from post two with Fernando Morin named to ride.
The QHRAI SSA Futurity and Derby Finals are set for Saturday, Aug. 24. Three other all-Quarter Horse racing nights are still on the docket for 2019 with the next day dedicated to the sprinters set for Saturday, Sept. 14. Other all-Quarter Horse racing days include Saturday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 26, which is Quarter Horse Stakes Night featuring purses in excess of $425,000 for the night.
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Wednesday, Nov. 6. Racing is conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:15 p.m. and Saturday at 6:15 p.m. More information about the season is available at www.indianagrand.com.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and diversity. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile dirt race course and a seven-eighths mile turf course offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Winner’s Circle Brewpub & OTB located on the casino floor as well as a Winner’s Circle OTB located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2019 Caesars License Company, LLC.
Photos by Coady Photography
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