Sawyer Strange, ridden by Martin Munoz, wins the $28,050 Cox Ranch Distaff Regional Challenge Thursday, September 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 19, 2024–There was a question mark beside Sawyer Strange as she entered the gate for the $28,050 Cox Ranch Distaff Regional Challenge on Thursday, September 19, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The four-year-old mare was making her first start back in nearly a year. Still, she proved she hasn’t missed a step, rallying home to the win in the regional challenge to advance to the final coming up during the AQHA Challenge Championships on Saturday, October 26, at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Sawyer Strange drew the outside post in the seven-horse field and broke from the gate with authority. My Little Star and Diego Villamil Bocanegra grabbed the top spot early on, followed closely by Relentless Reba and Saul Lopez to their inside.

Sawyer Strange was just getting wound up for Martin Munoz. The mare found her best stride midway through the 400-yard dash and ran down her opponents, winning the race by a neck in a time of 19.957. My Little Star was second, followed by Relentless Reba for third.

Sawyer Strange was tagged as the favorite, paying $5.60 for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Lota PYC was a private acquisition by owner Steve Strange from Whiting Ranch in Oklahoma. Ricardo Martinez trains the mare, who turned in her last start at Lone Star Park in October of 2023.

"There’s always some concern when a horse hasn’t run in a long time and hasn’t been active," said Martinez, who has trained the mare off and on, winning a race with her in Indiana last fall. "She had a little ankle issue and had surgery, so that’s the reason for the layoff."

The winning connections of Sawyer Strange accept the $28,050 Cox Ranch Distaff Regional Challenge trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Thursday. © Coady Media

"We gave her all the time she needed. We’ve had her for a while in training and once she got back into training, we pointed her toward this race. Martin (Munoz) has been working her for a while, so he knows her pretty good. She’s a class act."

Steve Strange is fairly new to Quarter Horse racing as an owner. It is believed he named this mare after his daughter, Sawyer, who is a standout softball player for her high school team in Durant, Okla. According to her profile, she hopes to study veterinary science in college.

Sawyer Strange now has a spot in the Grade 1 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge during the AQHA Challenge Championships. Two more regional challenge events are left on the schedule to complete the field for the finals at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Trainer Natasha Perez saddled runner-up My Little Star for owners Mark and Rosemary Gorney. Eduardo Nieto bred the three-time winner in Oklahoma out of Captains Dream by Captain Courage. The four-year-old daughter of Volcom has earned $60,921 from 16 starts.

Third-place finisher Relentless Reba was bred in Texas by Twin Spires Farm out of the Fit To Fly mare Fittin To Fly. The four-year-old winning daughter of Hes Relentless has earned $24,856 for owner-trainer Cody Gates.

Paige, Glamazon, Valiant Chick Insnow, and Iza Favorite round out the order of finish.

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The 22nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Thursday, November 14. Racing is held at 2:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. One additional all-Quarter Horse racing day is set for 10:45 a.m. Saturday, October 5. 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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