Prize Kiss under jockey  Luz Daniel Martinez, winning the $36,372-added Adequan Indiana Derby Regional Challenge at Horseshoe Indianapolis Thursday.

© Coady Photography

SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 22, 2022–Even though it was just a four-horse race, it was a fierce battle between three contenders for the title in the $36,372-added Adequan Derby Regional Challenge tonight (SEP 22).

Prize Kiss emerged from a close photo to advance to the final slated for Saturday, Oct. 22 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

It was a clean break for all four as Prize Kiss and L.D. “Daniel” Martinez were not the early leader in the 400-yard dash. Screenshot and Jose Ruiz had the first lead with A Seperatist V and Isidro Banuelos then getting a head in front midway through the stretch.

The winning connections of Prize Kiss accept the Adequan Indiana Derby Challenge stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis. © Coady Photography

The whole time, Prize Kiss was holding his own on the outside. The final few strides brought the three horses to the wire together with Prize Kiss closing in during the last step to score the win by a nose over A Seperatist V. Screenshot finished another neck back in third.

“He is a horse that loves to run,” said Danny Martinez through an interpreter. “Sometimes he just has bad luck. He had a small injury early in the year that didn’t let him run (until August), but he’s good now. He’s a real professional to ride.”

Prize Kiss now has three stakes wins in four career trips to the winner’s circle. He paid $3.40 for the win in his first victory of the year in three starts. He now has more than $170,000 in career earnings for Owners Pam Brickley Hann and Craig Zeneberg.

Tony Cunningham trains the Kiss My Hocks three-year-old colt, who was a $38,000 purchase as a yearling from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in 2020.

 “He tries all the time,” said Salvador Villalobos, assistant to Trainer Tony Cunningham. “Sometimes he has just had bad racing luck. Tony will be very happy for Pam. She is a great owner.”

Prize Kiss’s journey to racing hasn’t always been an easy road. Early on, he needed some extra work and a lot of patience, a job that the Cunningham crew took on without any hesitations.

“He (Prize Kiss) is now good to work around, thanks to Salvador and the rest of Tony’s team,” said Hann. “He wasn’t at first, but they put a lot of work into him. Craig (Zeneberg) the co-owner and I went to Heritage Place to buy him. In fact, we are headed out right after this race to Heritage Place to meet up with Tony. We will try to get another one of these (referring to Prize Kiss).”

Prize Kiss has raced in all 11 career starts in Indiana and Martinez has been aboard for all his races. The sorrel colt bred by Flag Rach in Oklahoma was a winner at two in the Heartland Futurity at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He added the John Deere Juvenile Regional Challenge to his credentials last fall. He is out of the Carters Cartel mare Fast Prize Janie.

“He actually won the Juvenile (John Deere Regional Challenge) here last year, but we didn’t make the trip to Albuquerque for the final,” said Hann. “But we are very excited to win this one today and to have the Finals right here.”

Prize Kiss advances to the Grade 3 $150,000-est. Adequan Derby Challenge on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night next month. Other qualifiers, including tracks where they won the regional challenges for the event, include Scoops Dynasty (Los Alamitos), Hes Jess Dealin (Sam Houston), Suzes Dynasty (Pocatello Downs), Runaway Witch (Arizona Downs), Top Shelf 109 (Evergreen Park), Nothin Like You (Prairie Meadows) and B Leaving (Ruidoso Downs). There is one qualifier left on the schedule at Will Rogers Downs Sunday, Oct. 2.

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The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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Horseshoe Indianapolis, owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, racing, dining, and diversity. Located just minutes from Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., this one-of-a-kind property has wall to wall excitement on the 105,940 square foot gaming floor, featuring more than 1,600 slots and 72 table games along with a state-of-the-art World Series of Poker Room containing 20 tables.  Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.