Racing


Ms Fool Me Once wins the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
Ms Fool Me Once, under jockey Christian Esqueda, sets a new stakes record in the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity at Indiana Grand Saturday ,

© Linscott Photography
Ms Fool Me Once wins the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

SHELBYVILLE, IN—SEPTEMBER, 13, 2014—In the slimmest of margins between three horses, it was Ms Fool Me Once in the center of the track that earned the win in the 37th running of the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity at Indiana Grand Saturday.

Ridden by Christian Esqueda, Ms Fool Me Once completed the 350-yard dash in a time of :17.860 seconds to establish a new stakes record.

Starting from post four, Ms Fool Me Once was strong out of the gate and held her ground against her opponents in the early stages of the race. She was one of the leaders from the very start, but as the finish line neared, it was clear she was the one to beat, inching out to an advantage in the final strides.

Fast Man Vic and jockey Alvaro Hernandez-Lopez posed a threat from the inside while Jesse Jr First Down and Leading Quarter Horse Rider Shanley Jackson made a bold move late on the outside to create a close three-horse finish.

When the photo sign came down, it was Ms Fool Me Once whose number flashed up as the winner by a nose over Fast Man Vic. Jesse Jr First Down finished a head back in third. Less than two lengths separated the top six finishers in the eight-horse final.

“Last time we had a little trouble,” said Esqueda, who recorded the largest win of his career in the Futurity Final. “But she (Ms Fool Me Once) broke well today. It was close but I thought we had it.”

Ms Fool Me Once grabbed her third win of the year in just six career starts. The two-year-old daughter of Escondido Beach now has in excess of $125,000 in earnings for Roy Moore, who is the breeder, owner and trainer. The filly is out of the Thoroughbred mare Foolininthemeadow, by Meadow Prayer. It was the first win for Esqueda aboard Ms Fool Me Once.

“This win is even more special because I started with Roy (Moore),” said Esqueda. “I knew about horses but I didn’t know anything about riding them and he taught me.”

A native of Mexico, Esqueda has been riding for the past three years. After only a few starts in 2012, he came back to earn a spot among the top 10 riders last year at Indiana Grand. This season, he’s currently ranked in 12th place among the leading Quarter Horse riders. In addition to riding at Indiana Grand, Esqueda has also been riding at Prairie Meadows this month. He plans to return to Hialeah to ride during the winter months.

Fast Man Vic, a gelding by Mighty Invictus from the Heza Fast Man mare Precious Debutante, races for owner/breeder Walter "Dick" Harrison. Richard Rettle saddled. He earned $34,512 for the effort.

Ron Raper conditions Jesse Jr First Down for owner Cynthia Allen. Jovetta Meredith bred the Jesse James Jr gelding in Kentucky from the Game Patriot mare First Down Beaus. He picked up $16,348.

Docs First Dynasty, Dna Dales Quick Cat, This Wagon Is Mine, Kt Gone For A Corona and Dna Ivory Chrystal completed the field.

The previous stakes record for the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity, which was held for the first time in 1998 as a pari-mutuel event at Hoosier Park, was established in 2012 by Tinys First Pepsi and Rodney Prescott in a time of :17.870 seconds. This year’s race is the second year it has been contested at Indiana Grand and sets a record for the highest purse ever offered for the Futurity Final and marks the second highest purse of the 2014 racing season for Quarter Horses, second only to the $199,200 Gordon Mobley Futurity held in July.

Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Saturday, Nov. 1 offering racing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 2:05 p.m. with Friday and Saturday action beginning at 5:05 p.m. For more information, visit the Website at indianagrand.com.