The Dirty Wagon, under jockey German Rodriguez, winning the $108,900 Harley Green Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis Saturday.

© Coady Photography

 SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 3, 2023–The Dirty Wagon took the right path to victory Saturday, June 3 during the first of six all-Quarter Horse racing days at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Guided by German Rodriguez, the three-year-old Indiana sired gelding scored his first career stakes win in the ninth running of the $108,900 Harley Greene Derby.

Starting from post two, The Dirty Wagon was a factor from the start, holding his ground inside with the rest of the field. Midway through the 350-yard dash, it was anyone’s race to win with the entire field stretched across the track.

 It wasn’t until the final strides that The Dirty Wagon finally got a nose in front and proceeded to take the title by a neck over Tachas Secret and Fernando Morin. AJK Forgiven and Jose Ruiz finished another half length back in third along the inside. Less than a length and a half separated the top five finishers in the race.

"He’s a little difficult to ride, but that is why I stuck with him," said Rodriguez. "I rode him last year as a two-year-old and then stuck with him this year. He’s not easy to ride. The main thing is to just try to keep him calm. He is too fired up all the time."

The winning connections of The Dirty Wagon accept the Harley Green Derby stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

The Dirty Wagon paid $6.80 to his backers. The On the Wagon gelding is owned by Keith Bode and Debbie Smith and trained by Horseshoe Indianapolis nine-time leading trainer Randy Smith.

Amy Youngblood Peoples bred the sophomore, who earned his fourth career win in nine career starts. After winning his trial, he was ranked eighth on the list of qualifiers. The Dirty Wagon is now two for two in 2023.

"I told Randy last year he just kept going and going at 300 and he would be better this year at 350," said Rodriguez. "He just keeps getting better and better and he’s definitely a distance horse."

The Dirty Wagon has a habit of always being close in his races. He competed at the top level in Indiana last year at two and his win in the Harley Greene Derby places him over the $145,000 mark in career earnings.

"Like German (Rodriguez) said, he likes lots of track to run," added Smith. "He’s a little bit of a handful but he’s manageable. He won his trial and I really thought he had a good shot today in the final. He’s a hearty horse and has a big heart."

Harley Greene, longtime employee for the state of Indiana as a farm inspector, was trackside to present the trophy to the connections of The Dirty Wagon. The win had special meaning to him since he has a history with the Smith family.

"Years ago, me and Randy (Smith’s) grandpa (Bertus Brazier) used to race horses together when Randy wasn’t even born yet," said an emotional Greene in the winner’s circle. "His grandpa would be so proud of what Randy has accomplished if he was here."

Brazier, a big farmer from Gallatin County in Southern Illinois, ran horses in the Midwest and ventured into Louisiana to race. He often shipped his horses to other trainers during farming season, and his grandson, Randy, has picked up his love for Quarter Horse racing.

Smith holds all kinds of records for training in Indiana, most of which he broke again last year. He is the track’s all-time winning trainer in wins and earnings and holds the record for most wins in one season, most purse earnings in one season, and most races won on one program, just to point out a few. The Dirty Wagon becomes the latest in a long line of stakes winners for Smith, who is a native of Broughton, Ill.

Fastest qualifier Tachas Secret, under jockey Fernando Morin, earned $21,790 for her second-place effort. The stakes winning Habits Secret filly, from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Sin Tachas Angel, races for owner Duke Racing LLC and is trained-and-bred by Ricardo Martinez. She has banked $61,330 in seven career starts.

Third-place finisher Ajk Forgiven picked up $10,980 for her effort. Trainer Sacramento Chavez named jockey Jose Ruiz to ride the daughter of Mo Zomo for owner-breeder Jose Chavez. Out of the Pappasito mare Loving On The Run, Ajk Forgiven has earned $48,126 in 12 career starts.

Royal Sin, Jess Sir E Bob, Seize Greatness, Pandemic Beach, Runaway Beach, Its On and Habits Lil Teller completed the field.

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The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing is held Tuesday through Thursday with Saturday racing added in during the summer months. First post Tuesday and Wednesday is 2:30 p.m. Thursday racing begins at 2:10 p.m. The Summer Saturday Racing Series includes five all-Quarter Horse dates July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana’s featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for 12 p.m. Saturday, July 8. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.