Arbitro holds off Cowboy On The Fly (outside) for the fastest qualifying time to the Heartland Futurity at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 29, 2024–Arbitro braved a big finish by Cowboy on the Fly from the far outside to score his first career win in his racing debut in the Heartland Futurity trials today.

He will lead the top 10 qualifiers into the $168,520 final set for Quarter Horse Stakes Day Saturday, July 20 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Arbitro began from post two and was among the top two early on, battling with JY Bravo and Jose Ruiz in the initial stages of the 350-yard dash. Midway through the race, he began to inch out and take the lead and was clear of the inside horses.

However, it was Cowboy on the Fly and Saul Lopez who were gobbling up ground with every stride. The two hit the wire together with a nose determining it was Arbitro for the win. Cowboy on the Fly was second over JY Bravo for third.

Despite making his first career start in the Heartland Futurity Trials, Arbitro, owned by Campos Family Ventures, was the favorite of the race, paying $6.60 to win.

Gringoo, under jockey Martin Munoz, setting the second fastest time for the Heartland Futurity. © Coady Media

The Ivory James colt, trained by Claudio Barraza, who earned his fourth win of the day with Arbitro, was a $40,000 purchase from the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. He was bred in Texas by Dillion Lane from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Dee Dee.

Runner-up Cowboy On The Fly, a colt by leading second-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 ended with the second fastest time of :18.151 seconds. Anthony Cunningham trains the gelding for owner-breeder Edward Walsh.

Gringoo was one of three trial winners for jockey Martin Munoz. Starting from post three, Gringoo was strong out of the gate and went to work for Munoz.

The freshman son of Habits Secret had a challenge early on in the 350-yard dash from Can D Girl and Giovani Vazquez Gomez, but didn’t back down, grinding his way to the wire first to win by one-half length.

Can D Girl finished second in a four-horse photo that put Mighty Illegal and L.D. Danny Martinez in third.

Gringoo was making his first Indiana start after an outing at Remington Park in May. It was his first career win for owner-trainer-breeder Ricardo Martinez, who also campaigned his sire Habits Secret. The sorrel freshman paid $17.20 as an overlooked entrant in the trial.

Out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess My Joy, Gringoo posted the third fastest clocking of 18.324 seconds.

Martinez and Munoz also scored a win in the final trial of the day with Caughtmeatagoodtime, who dead-heated with Farr Lyla. The dead heat placed the two contenders in a tie for 10th on the leaderboard after a shake between each of the connections.

Caughtmeatagoodtime advances to the final over Farr Lyla, who hails from the Tim Eggleston barn with Eduardo Diaz aboard for the dead heat win.

Other trial winners on the day included RR God And Cowboys, a Big Lew colt from the Tony Cunningham barn with L.D. Danny Martinez aboard in a time of :18.333 and Namor, a son of 1981 World Champion Triple Crown winner Special Effort, from the Raul De La Mora barn with Munoz aboard.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of Heartland Futurity qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders and jockeys.

Ricardo Martinez saddles three for the final (Gringoo, Runningagainstdwind, Caughtmeatagoodtime), while Tony Cunningham saddles three (Cowboy on the Fly, RR God and Cowboys, and RR Lotta Runforrobyn).

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The 22nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Thursday, Nov. 14. Racing is held Monday through Thursday at 2:10 p.m. Six all Quarter Horse dates are set for 10:45 a.m. Saturdays June 1, June 29, July 20, Aug. 10, Aug. 31, and Oct. 5. Indiana's featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for Saturday, July 6 with a first post time of 12 p.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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