SHELBYVILLE, IN—JULY 15, 2020—It’s not a first, but it is still unique. When the field of 10 steps onto the track for the 18th running of the $138,400 Jaguar Rocket Futurity Final, it will mark a first for Indiana. Full brothers Rock Candy Almighty (Post 5) and Rock The Candy Wagon (Post 10) will vie for the stakes title, thanks to embryo transfer, in the featured event Monday, July 20.

Lance Finlinson didn’t know the impact Jesses Candy would make on his Quarter Horse operation in Greenwood, Ind. He purchased the mare in 2014 from Stanley Forbes due to a connection to Carl Pevehouse. From that point forward, Finlinson and his wife, Tammy, have enjoyed seeing foal after foal from their mare win races and keep bringing success home to their operation.

“The late Carl Pevehouse bred Jesses Candy,” said Finlinson. “He mentored me when I started, and he is in the Hall of Fame now. That’s why I bought this mare in the first place because of the connection to him. He is the founder of the “Candy” horses.”

When Finlinson purchased Jesses Candy at the age of six, she had two embryo transfers in reset mares from Fantastic Corona Jr. Finlinson had one and Forbes kept the other. Forbes foal turned out to be the filly Jess Shantastic, winner of more than $85,000. Finlinson’s first foal from Jesses Candy turned out to be future Indiana champion Rockys Candy Shop, winner of more than $176,000 and nine of 17 starts. The success from the family was just beginning.

“The year after we bought Jesses Candy, Jess Good Candy, who was out of a full sister to our mare (Jesses Candy), won the All American Futurity,” said Finlinson. Every horse we have had from this mare has won or been in the top three. We’ve been very blessed.”

The latest Finlinson foals are already looking like they will carry on the successful tradition of the “Candy” family. They will both be seeking their first win and will hope to achieve that in the Jaguar Rocket Futurity Final.

Rock Candy Almighty finished a neck back off the win in the trials and heads into the final with two second place finishes in two starts. The Pyc Paint Your Wagon colt was the third fastest qualifier out of 30 and has been tagged as the fourth choice on the morning line at odds of 6-1. Victor Olivo, who also trains, has opted to ride Rock Candy Almighty over the other Finlinson qualifier, Rock the Candy Wagon.

Rock The Candy Wagon also comes into the Futurity Final with two second place finishes in two career starts. The son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon was the final qualifier in slot 10 for the Futurity and is set at odds of 10-1. Juan Cruz has picked up the ride for Olivo and the Finlinsons.

“Both of these two-year-olds were embryo transfers to reset mares,” said Finlinson. “It’s really rewarding to see both make it to the track. There is no limit on the number of embryo transfers we can do each year. We just had two for that year. No telling how much we have invested in this process, but it pays off if you have a good mare.”

Finlinson noted the embryo transfer process ranges in price from $5,000 to $7,000 per transfer. This fee does not include the stud fee or other costs involved, so the investment is substantial before the foal hits the ground.

“Jesses Candy is at our farm now,” added Finlinson. “Up until this year, we have only done embryo transfers and put in reset mares, but this year she is carrying a foal by PYC (Paint Your Wagon), so it will be a full brother or sister to our two-year-olds this year.”

Finlinson’s pair of runners will see the biggest challenge from race favorite Heza Fast Kisser from the Claudio Barraza Sable. After being bumped hard at the start, the Kiss My Hocks colt came running back to finish third by three-quarters of a length for the win. He will be ridden by L.D. Martinez from post four at odds of 2-1 as the favorite of the field.

Another solid contender for the Jaguar Rocket Futurity title is One Coldhearted Diva from the Jessica Vazquez Stable. The One Fabulous Eagle filly stormed down the track for a win in the trials with the fastest time of :15.604. She will begin from post eight with Giovani Vazquez-Gomez aboard. Bennett Racing Stable owns the temperamental filly managed by the husband and wife Vazquez team and has been selected as second choice of the field at odds of 7-2.

The full field, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes:

1. Cranky Louise (Cristian Reyes, 20-1)
2. Fire the Cartel (Shanley Jackson, 12-1
3. The Transmission (Sergio Ramirez, 6-1)
4. Heza Fast Kisser (L.D. Martinez, 2-1)
5. Rock Candy Almighty (Victor Olivo, 6-1)
6. Streakin James (Juan Marquez, 20-1)
7. BV Fancy Free (Samuel Mendez, 10-1)
8. One Cold Hearted Diva (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 7-2)
9. Unbound Patriot (Antonio Rodriguez, 12-1
10. Rock the Candy Wagon (Juan Cruz, 10-1).

The Jaguar Rocket Futurity Final is slated as the ninth and final race on the card Monday, July 20. Estimated post time is 6:04 p.m. The Jaguar Rocket Futurity Final kicks off a full week of Quarter Horse stakes finals at Indiana Grand. The Gordon Mobley Futurity Final is slated for Tuesday, July 21 while the Heartland Futurity Final will be in the spotlight Wednesday, July 22. The week will conclude with the Blue River Derby Final set for Thursday, July 23.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Live racing continues through Wednesday, Nov. 18 with action held Monday through Thursday beginning at 2:20 p.m. Three more Saturday programs are slated for all-Quarter Horse days Aug. 8, Oct. 23 and Oct. 24.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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.