SHELBYVILLE, IN—SEPTEMBER 20, 2021—Prize Kiss was the favorite for a reason coming into the $46,937 John Deere Indiana Juvenile Challenge Final today (Sept. 20).

The Tony Cunningham trained freshman is always close at the wire and earned his second stakes win in the event to qualify for the $125,000-est. John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) to be contest during the Bank of America Challenge Championships Saturday, October 23rd at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Starting from post four, Prize Kiss was a few strides slower than his opponents at the start, but quickly rebounded and got into gear for jockey L.D. Martinez. Stablemate All Star Beach was in contention for the lead early on. Prize Kiss traveled down the stretch in the 350-yard dash to gain the win by three-quarters of a length at the wire in :18.250.

All Star Beach and Rolando Pina held ground inside well for second over Dominyuns Runaway and Jose Beltran, who finished a head back in third closing in on the outside.

Owned by Pamela Brickley Hann and Craig Zeneberg, Prize Kiss is now two for six in his career with only one start back of second place. The Kiss My Hocks colt was purchased out of the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last fall for $38,000 and now has in excess of $141,000 for his connections. He won the $132,000 Heartland Futurity earlier in the season at Indiana Grand.

"He doesn’t always break that well and was a little off today, but Daniel (Martinez) said he got strong once he got out a ways," said Cunningham, who finished one-two in the race as a trainer. "The team has done a super job with this horse. From the jockey to the grooms, they have all done a great job with him."

Runner-up All Star Beach races for owner-breeder Sheri Miller and is also trained by Cunningham. The daughter of leading Indiana sire Escondido Beach is out of the First To Flash mare Flashin Dee Dee. She earned $9,387 for the effort.

The lightly raced Dominyuns Runaway ran the biggest race of her career to finish third for owner-trainer Ollie Matthews. Jose Beltran rode the Dominyun filly out of Sabrinas Gold by Voughts Gold. Lindsay McGaha bred the chestnut filly in Tennessee. She earned $4,639.

Chequer Out, Separate Incident, Immeasurable, Illegal Id, Paint Your Legacy and Question The Eagle completed the field.

The John Deere Juvenile Challenge, paired with the Q-Racing Videos Distaff Challenge also on the card, established a precursor to the 2022 Bank of America Challenge Championships, which will be hosted by Indiana Grand. The races will be the first time the Challenge has come to Indiana and preparations are already underway for the Quarter Horse racing showcase.

"This will be a big thing for Indiana," added Cunningham. "If we can get more people paid in it will go over really well here at Indiana Grand."

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The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Thursday, Nov. 11. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state’s top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.IndianaGrand.com.

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About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
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 more than 2,100 of the latest slots and table games in addition to a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course providing live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast and sports wagering is also offered year-round at Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located on the casino floor as well as a Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.

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