Dupont Beach, piloted by Juan Marquez, wins the $142,600 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Wednesday.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 9, 2024–Dupont Beach had to dig deep to fend off his opponents, but he got the job done Wednesday in the 16th running of the $142,600 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The race is named in honor of former Indiana Quarter Horse racing advocate Sterlie Bertram, who was instrumental in developing the Indiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association more than five decades ago.

Dupont Beach and jockey Juan Marquez broke from the inside post and headed straight out of the gate through the 400-yard dash. Sin Tachas Secret and Martin Munoz also had a good start on the opposite end of the gate in post ten and were in contention for the top spot in the early stages.

Dupont Beach’s stablemate, Jess a Flyin Train and Edgar Diaz, were also applying pressure right next to him from post two as the two horses raced down the track as a team. In the final strides, Dupont Beach was able to shake off Jess a Flyin Train.

However, Sin Tachas Secret had one big kick left and traveled quickly in the final strides. Dupont Beach was able to hold her off for the win by a neck in 19.816 seconds. Tin Knocker and Alberto Ceron finished another neck back in third.

The winning connections of Dupont Beach accept the $142,600 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Wednesday. © Coady Media

Dupont Beach was a bit of a surprise to the betting public, paying $18.60 for the win. It was the third win of the season for the Duponte gelding, who was bred and is still owned by Sheri Miller.

Claudio Barraza trains the sophomore, who scored his first career stakes win. After cashing in the $78,430 winner's check, he now has nearly $180,000 on his card. The victory improved his race record to 4-6-0 from 14 starts.

“He drew the rail a few times last year and won several races,” noted Barraza. “So when I saw he drew the rail, I thought he might have a big shot today.”

Dupont Beach is a third generation runner for Miller, who stands the state’s top stallion, Escondido Beach, at her farm in Northern Indiana. She also ran his mother, Beach Birde, a daughter of Escondido Beach, who was a stakes runner in Indiana before retiring to Miller’s strong broodmare band.

The granddam of Dupont Beach is Jess Alive Bully, who was part of Miller’s barn as a trainer. She is now one of Miller’s foundation mares and has produced numerous stakes winners, including Beach Blast, Beach Mercedes and Jess A Flyin Beach, who finished in a dead heat for fourth in the Bertram Memorial Classic.

Runner-up Sin Tachas Secret is bred, owned and trained by Ricardo Martinez in Indiana. The three-year-old daughter of Habits Secret broke her maiden in the trials to the Sterlie Bertram Memorial and now has $64,403 in the bank from 13 starts. She is out of Sin Tachas Angel by Pyc Paint Your Wagon.

Martinez also saddled third-place finisher Tin Knocker for owner Gerardo Corral. Carlos Ramos bred the four-time winner out of Favorite Sissy by Favorite Cartel. The three-year-old gelding has lit the board ten of 14 starts with $129,933 in earnings.

Cisco Beach, Jess A Flyin Train, Mg Pilot Boy, Jess A Riot, The Good Candy, Hf Main Feature and Eagle Flybye complete the order of finish.

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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