Ridden by jockey Leonardo Rodriguez, Beach First drives to victory in the $127,700 Blue River Derby on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JULY 19, 2025—Beach First may have been the last name called in the late stages, but he was the first to get to the wire in the 400-yard $127,700 Blue River Derby Saturday, July 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

It was a nice homecoming present for Jockey Leonardo Rodriguez, who returned for the first time since launching his career in Indiana in 2018 when he rode for Trainer John McCreary, who is now retired from racing.

Beach First began from post nine and was not in the mix early as several horses swapped out time as the leader in the early stages. AP Political Patriot and Jose Ruiz, winner of the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity last year as the first Graded Stakes for Indiana, had a short margin as did Torero Two and Manny Gutierrez from the center of the track.

Beach First found his best stride in the final stages for Rodriguez and began inching up as did CV Sky Kiss and Fernando Morin on the far outside. It was an extended photo finish, but the winner was Beach First by a neck in the six horse photo.

The winning connections of Beach First accept the Blue River Derby stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
© Coady Media

Drinkinatacartelbar and Daniel Martinez moved up on the inside of Beach First to finish second by a nose over Apollitical Mission and Rolando Pina. Time of the dash was :20.376.

Beach First was one of three qualified for the final by Trainer Tim Eggleston, paying $12.40 for the win. The sorrel son of Escondido Beach is owned by Gregg Farris, who greeted his horse in the winner's circle with an emotional response.

"My Dad is at the house today and couldn't be here," said Farris. "We own these horses together, but he just not able to be here. We found this colt in Michigan standing in a field up to his knees in mud. He has a toughness, and my dad will be so proud when he knows this horse won."

As far as the reunion for Rodriguez in Indiana, it was a good fit for Eggleston to bring him back to ride several of his horses during the day, including Beach First. Rodriguez didn't ride for Eggleston when he was previously in Indiana, but Eggleston knows the skill set of the young rider.

"I've known Leonardo (Rodriguez) since he was a little kid," noted Eggleston. "I told Gregg (Farris) we were going to put Leonardo on to ride, and he said okay. Leonardo has been doing well in Louisiana, so it was time to bring him back."

Rodriguez just completed the meet at Delta Downs as the leading jockey, scoring 49 wins for the title. He is the youngest of three brothers that ride, joining Everado and Jose in the saddle. The multiple Graded Stakes placed rider has catapulted to the top since leaving Indiana in 2019 and has been among the nation's top 15 Quarter Horse jockeys the past two years.

"I'm happy and very glad to be back," noted Rodriguez. "I want to thank John McCreary for giving me such a great start. I got a call from Tim (Eggleston) who needed another rider. Tim just told me to hang on and this horse (Beach First) will break and go. He stood well for me in the gate and was all business."

The team behind the Eggleston horses is extensive and is led by Assistant Trainer Jordan Hash. Hash was also trackside for the presentation of the Blue River Derby trophies.

"He's a hard-trying horse, but he's had some tough luck in his races, slipping and getting bumped," noted Hash. "Drawing on the outside today definitely didn't hurt. You gotta be lucky. It's better to be lucky than good sometimes. I think the draw helped him a lot today. He drew outside the really good horses and broke clean. Leonardo (Rodriguez) did a good job with him, and it worked out today."

Beach First is paid into the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity, most likely his next focus. Trials for the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity, a Restricted Grade 3 event, are set for the next all Quarter Horse Day Saturday, Aug. 9. The final will be held Saturday, Aug. 30 during a day featuring three stakes finals and trials for fall races on the docket in Indiana.

Runner-up Drinkinatacartelbar, a 3-year-old chestnut filly sired by Five Bar Cartel and out of Tru Lee Quick by La Jollaroid  was bred in Indiana by Duane Swingley and remains a homebred, having been a $25,000 RNA at the 2023 QHRAI Speed Sale. Owned in partnership by Brian J. Elmore and Duke Racing LLC, the filly is conditioned by Anthony Cunningham and was ridden by L. Martinez. Her runner-up finish earned her a check for $25,540.

Apollitical Mission captured third in a close finish, beaten just a neck behind the top pair. The brown gelding is a 3-year-old son of The Transmission, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Apollitical Deb. Bred by Walter R. "Dick" Harrison, the Indiana-bred is owned by Phillip Harrison and trained by Tim Eggleston, who also conditioned the winner. R. Pina was aboard for the effort, guiding him to a share of the purse worth $12,770.

Completing the field were Cv Sky Kiss, Toreno Tow, Jess A Beach, Escondido Gold, TwoTrumps Secrets, Ap Political Patriot, and Hoosie Eye Candy.

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.

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