Mr Michel, piloted by Edgar Diaz, set a new track record after winning the $113,280 Indiana Championship on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 26, 2024–It was an amazing day of top horsepower in the state of Indiana for the fifth annual Indiana Champions Day presented by Indiana Breed Development. The older horses took center stage in the $113,280 Indiana Championship with seven of the 10 starters possessing more than $100,000 on their career statistics.

One of Indiana’s most fierce older horses this year was back to defend his title and he did it in a big way, setting a new track record for 440 yards in the process.

Mr Michel has been nothing but spectacular throughout his entire career, showing his talent as a two-year-old. Under the direction of Claudio Barraza the entire time, the now five-year-old son of Kiss My Hocks continues with that same tenacity and brought his "A" game again in the race full of talented older horses, including two-time stakes winner WRs Valentino.

When the gate sprung open, Mr Michel and Edgar Diaz were on the far outside and didn’t appear to be a threat in the early stages. Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin were controlling the tempo from the center of the track with High Rolling Seize and Shanley Jackson keeping close.

Midway through the race, Mr Michel kicked into his usual late closing gear and went to work, moving the quickest in the final strides and nabbed Tachas Secret right at the wire by a neck for the win in 21.580, a 105 speed index. High Rolling Seize finished third. The time eclipsed the previous track record set by WRs Valentino in 2022 in a time of 21.61 seconds. The race was his last as WRs Valentino moves into retirement for Gwen and Randy Williams at the age of eight.

The winning connections of Mr Michel accept the $113,200 Indiana Championship Stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday. © Coady Media

Diaz said, "It went almost exactly the same as last year in the same race. He's a large horse and quite heavy. He started out a bit behind, but in the end, he finished strongly. He's a very sound horse. He doesn't have any physical issues and always has a good attitude. I think that's what helps him to keep running well."

Mr Michel was tagged as the favorite, paying $4.40 for the win. He was bred by Mark Michel in Indiana and is out of the stakes winning mare Lovemelikethat, who won several races during her career before becoming just as much of a success in the brood mare ranks. Mr Michel won his eighth career stakes title for owner Alberto Valadez. He now has more than $531,000 on his card and moves into third place on the list of all-time leading Indiana bred Quarter Horses with his earnings tally.

"I watched the race from Albuquerque and really thought that the eight (Tachas Secret) was so far in front that she got him," said Barraza through a phone interview with Martha Claussen, who was in attendance for Indiana Champions Day. "But he just kicked in almost exactly like he did last year. This horse has showed his talent ever since the beginning of his racing career and I actually think that he has always been a freak. Now we want to see if he can win this three times."

Mr Michel has had an outstanding five-year-old campaign, winning four of six starts and more than $140,000 in 2024 alone. Edgar Diaz has ridden in in all but one of his starts since his three-year-old season. He now has six wins aboard the standout sprinter.

"He is a little heavy when he takes off but at the end of a race, he does his job," said Diaz through translation following his win. "He is a very healthy and happy horse and he has no problems. He seems to get keep getting better and better every year. I think that’s why he stays so good."

Barraza rarely misses one of Mr Michel’s races, but is at the Bank of America Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque racing a pair from his barn. He is currently in a tie for leading trainer this season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Diaz is leading all Quarter Horse jockeys this season and will likely take home his first Indiana riding title at the conclusion of the meet Thursday, November 14.

Runner-up Tachas Secret has earned $353,880 for owner Chris Duke of Duke Racing, LLC. The four-year-old filly has nine wins and five seconds from 19 starts. She has six career stakes victories, including the Bob Woodard Memorial Classic Stakes, Horseshoe Indianapolis Classic Stakes and Born Runner Stakes from this season.

Trainer Ricardo Martinez bred the daughter of Habits Secret in Indiana. She is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Sin Tachas Angel.

Matt Frazier trains third-place finisher High Rolling Seize for owner-breeder Glenn Graff. The five-year-old gelding has four career stakes wins, including the Born Runner Classic Stakes, where he won in a dead-heat with runner-up Tachas Secret.

High Rolling Seize has eight wins from 30 starts and $409,235 in lifetime earnings. The son of Seize The Win is out of Crossing The Brazos by Feature Mr Jess.

Seize Greatness, Sundays Best, One Cool Corona, Wrs Valentino, Snow Moose, Oscar Mike and Volcom Cartel round out the order of finish.

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The 22nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Thursday, Nov. 14. Racing is held at 2:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find the track on Social Media @HSIndyRacing.

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