SHELBYVILLE, IN—SEPTEMBER 14, 2019—Cinnamon Beach and Samuel Mendez rallied hard all the way to the wire to pull in an upset in the $45,700 Leader of the Class Sale Futurity Saturday at Indiana Grand.

The race was established for weanlings and yearlings that have sold at the Speed Sale the past two years, respectively. The race is a perfect Segway into the ninth annual Indiana Quarter Horse Speed Sale set to begin at Noon Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

Starting from post six in the seven-horse field, Cinnamon Beach broke alertly and ended up drifting down several paths before settling in to run during the 330-yard dash. She held her ground on the front end and as Jess Z Bob and Juan Marquez began to close in at the wire from the outside, she was game and dug in for the win in a time of :17.274, just a nose ahead of Jess Z Bob. Loveherlikethat an Jose Beltran finished third.

Owned by Donna and Noel Alexander's DNA Quarter Horses, Cinnamon Beach paid $13.40, $8.00 and $5.60 across the board. It was her fourth career start and her first trip to the winner's circle in her brief career for trainer Randy Smith.

Mendez was making his third start aboard Cinnamon Beach coming into the Leader of the Class Sale Futurity. The Escondido Beach filly, who was unraced at two, just missed a win two starts back, but Mendez had confidence in the filly stepping up into stakes action for the first time in her brief career.

"He (Samuel Mendez) loves this filly and he so deserves this win," said Debbie Smith, Randy Smith's wife. "He was so confident in her. This is the biggest win of his career. He works so hard at our barn and it doesn't matter what we need, he jumps in to take care of it. We are so happy for him to get this win tonight."

Mendez is a native of Mexico and began his riding career in 2014 at Los Alamitos. He came to Indiana last year to ride and made the trip back from California again this season and now works for Smith.

Runner-up Jess Z Bob earned $9,140 for second. Paul Martin conditions the Jess Zoomin gelding for owner Robert A. Ray. The bay gelding is out of Billie Bob by Bringing The Heat. Bred by Mark and Teresa Myers, Jess Z Bob was also second in the Gordon Mobley Futurity in June and has banked more than $50,000 this season.

Thomas Wylie's Loveherlikethat picked up $4,570 for third. Racing for owner Thomas Wylie, Erin Thompson trains the Five Bar Cartel filly out of First Smart Stride by First Smart Money. Jose Beltran was in the irons of the Mark Michel bred 2-year-old. She has earned of $20,985.

Catchey Rhythm, Tomboy B, Hf Tough To Be Me and A Cozzy Corona completed the field. One Stormin Man was scratched.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. 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 an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.