Kelli Girl, ridden by Edgar Diaz, wins the Cox Ranch Distaff Regional Challenge at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Tuesday.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 16, 2025–Kelli Girl and Edgar Diaz left no room for doubt Tuesday, September 16 during the regional qualifier for the $26,273 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The duo powered home to graduate to stakes winning status in the 400 yard dash in a time of :19.807.

Kelli Girl began from post three and broke with the pack out of the gate. It only took a few strides for her to get going and get the early edge in the petite field of seven.

Skyline Spirit and Germarius O’Neal broke sharp to the inside and had a short lead with Can D Girl and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez showing a lot of early speed from the outside. Midway through the race, Kelli Girl took over and it was clear sailing to the wire, winning by three lengths. Relentless Reba and Isidro Banuelos were closing in quickly on the outside to grab second away from Skyline Spirit in the final stride.

The winning connections of Kelli Girl accept the Cox Ranch Distaff Regional Challenge trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Tuesday. © Coady Media

“She (Kelli Girl) was a little nervous at first when she was in the gate and she didn’t break as well as I wanted,” noted Diaz. “But once she got going, she stepped up. She was strong and tried hard to the wire.”

Kelli Girl paid $6.00 for the win. The three-year-old Tempting Dash filly is owned and trained by Claudio Barraza. She was a $17,000 purchase last fall as a two-year-old from the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale.

A Texas bred, Kelli Girl earned only her second career win in her sixth career start. She nearly doubled her career earnings in the effort to more than $32,000 with the win. Kelli Girl is a half-sister to the great Jessies First Down, a two time AQHA World Champion and multiple Graded Stakes winner of 19 races and more than $1.5 million in earnings. Both horses were bred and raised by Ted Abrams of Texas.

Kelli Girl is now eligible to the Bank of America Challenge Championships set for Saturday, October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque, a step Barraza advanced to last year with Arbitro and scored the win in the Grade 2 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship.

“She (Kelli Girl) is bred very well, and she showed it today,” said Barraza. “We will see what she says as far as going to the Challenge.”

Cody Gates owns and trains runner-up Relentless Reba. The daughter of Hes Relentless has a record of 2-5-2 from 18 starts with $45,491 in the bank. Twin Spires Farm bred the five-year-0ld mare in Texas out of Fittin To Fly by Fit To Fly.

Trainer Shawna Martin saddled third-place finisher Skyline Sprit for owner Baylee Cissell. The four-year-old daughter of Apollitical Spirit has lit the board seven of 18 starts with $42,589 in earnings. James Burgess, MD bred her in Oklahoma out of Shez First Class Act by Heza Fast Dash.

Cc Rel Fast, Can D Girl, Eos Bit Chin Babe and Authentyc complete the order of finish. Astronaut was scratched.

The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

About Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis, owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, racing, dining, and diversity. Located just minutes from Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., this one-of-a-kind property has wall to wall excitement on the 105,940 square foot gaming floor, featuring more than 1,600 slots and 72 table games along with a state-of-the-art World Series of Poker Room containing 20 tables. In addition, Horseshoe Indianapolis offers the only live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the state showcased on a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course. Simulcast and sports wagering is offered year-round at Caesars Race & Sportsbook, also located on the casino floor, with additional gaming provided at Caesars Race & Sportsbook in Clarksville, Ind. Players can reap benefits from Caesars Rewards, the industry’s most lucrative bonus program now offered at more than 50 destinations. Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Please play responsibly. If you think you or someone you care about may have a gambling problem, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448). ©2025 Caesars License Company, LLC.

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