Can D Girl (#7) has been installed as the 7-2 morning-line choice in Thursday's $132,080 QHRAI Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 17, 2025–Ten of the top 3-year-old Quarter Horses in training will square off Thursday, June 19, at Horseshoe Indianapolis in the $132,080 QHRAI Derby, a 400-yard test set as Race 9 on the card with a scheduled post time of 6:15 p.m. ET.

Limited to sophomores who earned berths in time trials held May 31, the race has attracted a strong and well-matched field, headlined by morning-line favorite Can D Girl and fastest qualifier Runninagainstdwind.

Installed as the 7-2 morning-line choice, Can D Girl will break from post ten for owner Angel Ventura and trainer Jessica Vazquez, with Giovani Vazquez-Gomez set to ride.

The gray filly by leading second-crop sire Uncle D, out of This Candy Says Bye by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, was bred in Oklahoma by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC and was purchased for $11,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

She is already a four-time winner from nine starts, with career earnings of $85,130. Can D Girl was dominant in her trial win, powering gate to wire to score by a clear length in 19.942 while earning a 93 speed index.

That effort marked her second straight win and showed her readiness to step up in class after a productive juvenile campaign that included a competitive fourth-place finish in the $270,000 Governor's Stakes. Two races back she won the Sandy Ridge Cherokee Stakes.

Her main threat on the tote board is Runninagainstdwind, listed at 4-1 and breaking from post eight for owner Carlos Ramos and trainer Ricardo Martinez. Bred in Oklahoma by H & E Ranch Inc., the sorrel gelding is also by Uncle D and out of the mare Theslatesclean by Corona Cocktail.

He has earned $44,165 from six starts, winning two and finishing in the money in five. Runninagainstdwind made a strong impression in the final trial heat on May 31, narrowly prevailing over Apolitical Wagon and Streakin Little Jess in the fastest qualifying time of the night, stopping the clock in 19.864 and earning a 95 speed index.

A graded stakes-placed runner, he showed grit and determination in that effort, digging in late to prevail by a nose.

The field also includes multiple stakes-experienced runners such as Jolie Laide, winner of her trial in 19.939 for trainer Tim Eggleston and owner-breeder Doug Ruby, and Checkn Me Out, a lightly raced filly by Favorite Cartel who also qualified via a front-running victory in her heat.

Other qualifiers include Sweet and Hott, Dragon Dynasty, and This Is the One, all of whom hit the board in their respective trials.

The purse distribution for the QHRAI Derby will award $72,644 to the winner, with $26,416 to second and payouts continuing through tenth place.

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