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Fields Set For QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby, Futurity at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
Louisiana Lover will look for his fourth straight win in the $107,332 Derby QHRAI Stallion Service Auction (SSA) Derby Thursday at Indiana Grand & Casino.

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Fields Set For QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby, Futurity at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

SHELBYVILLE, IN—AUGUST 24, 2020— The fields are set for the 21st running of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) Stallion Service Auction (SSA) Derby and Futurity. Both finals will be featured at the end of the Thursday, racing program as races 10 and 11, respectively.

Louisiana Lover and Sammy Mendez will go for their fourth straight win in the $107,332 Derby. Heavily favored in the field, the son of The Louisiana Cartel is a perfect three for three this season. He is trained by Randy Smith, the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer, and owned by Chris Duke’s Duke Racing LLC. Louisiana Lover starts from post four at odds of 2-1.

Joining Louisiana Lover as a major contender in the Derby, which will offer its richest purse in the 21-year-history of the race, is Jess a Flyin Beach from the Tony Cunningham barn. The Escondido Beach gelding was also a winner during the trials, turning in the fastest time of :19.935 for the 400-yard dash. Also owned by Cunningham, Jess a Flyin Beach goes for his third straight win from post nine with L.D. Martinez aboard at odds of 5-2.

The entire field for the QHRAI SSA Derby, in post-position order with jockey and odds, includes:

  1. Fast Soldier (Cesar Esqueda, 30-1)
  2. Jess Z Bob (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 8-1)
  3. HH CJ Shake (Juan Marquez, 3-1)
  4. Louisiana Lover (Sammy Mendez, 2-1)
  5. Incognito Escondido (Oscar Macias, 30-1)
  6. SBM Soulja Boy (Jose Ruiz, 30-1)
  7. Thunder Beach (Shanley Jackson, 20-1)
  8. Beach Benny (German Rodriguez, 8-1)
  9. Jess a Flyin Beach (L.D. Martinez, 5-2)
  10. Cinnamon Beach (Antonio Rodriguez, 30-1).

Both Smith (Louisiana Lover, Thunder Beach, Cinnamon Beach) and Cunningham (Incognito Escondido, Beach Benny, Jess a Flyin Beach) will saddle three for the final while Trainer Paul Martin will have two vying for the title (Jess Z Bob, HH CJ Shake). Also of note, six of the finalists are by Indiana’s multiple award-winning Stallion of the Year, Escondido Beach. Estimated post time for the QHRAI SSA Derby is 6:30 p.m.

Shifting gears to the two-year-olds, the petite filly Beach Diva has been selected as the early favorite for the Futurity Final. The Escondido Beach grey filly, owned and bred by Sheri Miller, has not finished worse than third in four career starts this year. She is a full sister to Indiana standout Beach Cartel and has already established herself as a major stakes contender this year, just missing the title in the Gordon Mobley Futurity in late July. Beach Diva, the eighth fastest qualifier among 67 in the Futurity trials, starts from post five at odds of 7-5. L.D. Martinez gets the call from trainer Tony Cunningham.

Another strong contender in the Futurity is Inseperable Blood from the Randy Smith barn. The Apollitical Blood gelding was a winner in his trial for Duke Racing LLC and will seek his second win in his fifth outing for 2020. Inseperable Blood starts from post nine at odds of 9-2 with Sammy Mendez aboard.

The entire field for the QHRAI SSA Futurity, in post-position order with jockey and odds, includes:

  1. BP Fancy Lady (Oscar Macias, 8-1
  2. Zoomin Policy (Juan Marquez, 12-1)
  3. Once a Capo (Leonel Bolanos, 30-1)
  4. Beach Blast (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 8-1)
  5. Beach Diva (L.D. Martinez, 7-5)
  6. ZZ Stones Ablazing (Edgar Diaz, 10-1)
  7. Kisses Forever (German Rodriguez, 12-1)
  8. Mitey Persuasive (Erik Esqueda, 10-1)
  9. Inseperable Blood (Sammy Mendez, 9-2)
  10. Wheel to Win (Shanley Jackson, 12-1)

Once again, Smith (Beach Blast, Inseperable Blood, Wheel to Win) and Cunningham (Beach Diva, ZZ Stones Ablazing, Kisses Forever) saddle three in the final while Trainer Randy Thompson will send two out for the title (BP Fancy Lady, Mitey Persuasive). Estimated post time of the QHRAI SSA Futurity, which offers its third largest purse in the 21-year history of the race, is 7 p.m. for the 350-yard dash.

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Live racing is held Monday through Thursday beginning at 2:20 p.m. Two more Saturday programs are slated for all-Quarter Horse days Oct. 3 and Oct. 24.

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Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and diversity. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features more than 2,100 of the latest slots and table games in addition to a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course providing live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast and sports wagering is also offered year-round at Winner’s Circle Race Sports Pub located on the casino floor as well as a Winner’s Circle Race Sports Pub located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.

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