Runninagainstdwind (#5) held off Cowboy On The Fly (#2) in the $133,720 QHRAI Derby today at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 25, 2025—In a thrilling finish to the $133,720 QHRAI Derby Final at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Runninagainstdwind surged to victory by a neck over Cowboy On The Fly in the 400-yard event for three-year-olds contested under cloudy skies and a light crosswind of 5 mph.

The sorrel gelding stopped the clock in 19.622 seconds, earning a 102 speed index over a fast track.

Owned by Carlos Ramos and trained by Ricardo Martinez, Runninagainstdwind is a 3-year-old son of second-crop sire Uncle D out of Theslatesclean, by Corona Cocktail, bred in Oklahoma by H & E Ranch Inc.

The winning connections of Runninagainstdwind accept the Governors' Juvenile stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis. © Coady Media

"He is a horse that has been doing well, just not much luck," said Martinez. "This time, he came back from the trials better, so we thought he might run well today. He was doing better, but he’s had some bad racing luck. And in the (QHRAI SSA) Derby, he didn’t break good, and it cost him the race.'

Ridden by Fernando Morin, the gelding broke sharply, gained a short early advantage, and held firm through the wire to secure the winner’s share of $73,546. The five-time winner from 13 starts got his first career stakes victory, boosting his earnings to $149,201. He was third in the Horseshoe Indianapolis QHRAI Derby in June.

Finishing a determined second was Cowboy On the Fly, a sorrel gelding by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Dont Bug the Tres, by Tres Seis, bred in New York by Edward R. Walsh.

Racing for owner-trainer Anthony Cunningham, Cowboy On the Fly was guided by Isidro Banuelos and was prominent throughout before falling just short by a neck. His runner-up finish added $26,744 to the stakes winner's bankroll, bringing the total to 224,650.

Third place went to Terra Fina, a California-bred sorrel filly by world champion sire One Famous Eagle out of Terra Fire, by Walk Thru Fire, bred by Steve D. Burns DVM.

The M and G Farms Inc. runner, also trained by Anthony Cunningham and ridden by Yovani Flores-Minos, battled gamely early before weakening slightly late to finish another half-length back. She earned $13,372 for the effort. A $30,000 repurchase at the 2023 Ruidoso Yearling Sale, Terra Fina has earned $44,840.

Runninagainstdwind returned $37.80 to win, $12.80 to place, and $6.60 to show. Cowboy On the Fly paid $8.60 to place and $5.60 to show, while Terra Fina returned $7.80 to show. The $2 exacta (5-2) paid $298.00, and the 50-cent trifecta (5-2-3) returned $725.45.

Following the top three under the wire were Apolitical Wagon, This Is the One, Jolie Laide, Kadillaking, Rr Lotta Runforrobyn, and Eye the Cartel.

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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