Kadillaking, under jockey Martin Munoz, drives to the fastest qualifying time for the $143,720 QHRAI Derby on Thursday afternoon at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 2, 2025—Kadillaking and Martin Munoz were on cruise control to top the qualifiers in the QHRAI Derby Trials Thursday, October 2, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The duo posted the fastest time among 20 starters heading into the $143,720 final set for Saturday, October 25, during the sixth annual Indiana Champions Day.

Kadillaking had the outside post seven and was the last in but the first out of the starting gate. He had a slight advantage throughout the 400-yard dash but with 200 yards to go, he began to establish himself as the one to catch.

Beachin Famous and Rolando Pina stayed close to Kadillaking during the first part of the sprint and fended off a late challenge by Apolitical Wagon and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez to finish second. All three of the top finishers advanced to the final.

A winner by two and one-quarter lengths, Kadillaking was not the favorite, paying $5.60 for the win. The sorrel gelding by Lota PYC is owned by breeder Whiting Ranch and trained by Ricardo Martinez.

It was his third start under the direction of Martinez in Indiana and his second win at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Eye The Cartel, under jockey Cristina Esqueda, won the opening trial. © Coady Media

Kadillaking was bookended by two other trial winners on the day, starting off with Eye of the Cartel in the first trial and the second fastest qualifier on the day.

Guided by Cristian Esqueda, the Tell Cartel filly began from the outside post eight and was in command the entire way, posting a neck win over Cowboy on the Fly and Daniel Martinez, last year’s Governor’s Stakes winner. Runninagainstdwind and Martin Munoz finished third.

Eye of the Cartel was a bit more of a surprise winner, paying $6.00 for the win. She is owned by Brookelyn Owens and trained by James Goodnight. It was the third career win for the sophomore filly, bred in Oklahoma by Ron Lyles.

Rounding out the early evening card as a winner was This is the One and Daniel Martinez in a unique finish.

Coming out of the gate, the filly to his inside and stable mate, Play Fair, lost rider Isidro Banuelos at the start, but the filly kept on running, giving This Is the One a prompter to the inside. This is the One stayed with Play Fair under the watchful eye of Martinez the entire way and earned the win in a time of :20.02 as the fourth fastest qualifier on the day.

This Is The One under jockey Luz Martinez, won the closing trial. © Coady Media

RR Lotta Runforrobyn and Francisco Quintero, also a Tony Cunningham trainee, finished second over Checkn Me Out and Alberto Ceron for third. Play Fair was declared a non-starter due to the issue at the starting gate.

This Is the One paid $8.60 for the win. The black gelding by One Dashing Eagle earned his second win of 2025 and third overall for owner-breeder Casey Colwell of Tennessee. Cunningham trains the gelding, who has been in his barn since the beginning of his three-year-old season.

CLICK HERE for the entire field for the QHRAI Derby Final.

Cunningham moves into the final with four starters (Cowboy on the Fly, This Is the One, Terra Fina, RR Lotta Runforrobyn) while Ricardo Martinez will saddle two for the final (Kadillaking, Runninagainstdwind) as well as 2025 Leading Quarter Horse Trainer Tim Eggleston who has two headed to the final (Jolie Laide, Beachin Famous).

The QHRAI Derby, which is now in its 29th running, was one of three Quarter Horse races held during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel racing in 1997 at Hoosier Park.

The race will be one of six stakes on the Indiana Champions Day program, bringing out the brightest stars for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses Saturday, October 25.

The Quarter Horse portion of the program will offer the richest card in Indiana history with purses right at the $1 million mark. The Miss Roxie Little Futurity, a Restricted Grade 3 event, will offer a final purse of $359,600, the largest in program history.

Trials for the Miss Roxie Little and Governor’s Stake will be held during the final All-Quarter Horse Racing Day Saturday, October 4. First post for the day is 10:45 AM.

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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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 benefit 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). ©2024 Caesars License Company, LLC.

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