Stone Lake, under jockey Luz Martinez, winning the $83,000 Born Runner Classic at Horseshoe Indianapolis Saturday.

© Coady Photography

SHELBYVILLE, IN–JUNE 3, 2023–Stone Lake has now won at least one race for four consecutive years at Horseshoe Indianapolis. His latest trip to the winner’s circle was in the 14th running of the $83,000 Born Runner Classic.

The five-year-old son of Escondido Beach now has more than $387,000 on his card and is inching closer to a spot in the top five all-time leading Indiana Sired Quarter Horses in state history.

Stone Lake and L.D. "Danny" Martinez were the last in the gate of the 400-yard dash and began their journey from the outside in post 10. When the gate sprung, Stone Lake wide to the outside of the rest of his opponents until midway through the race.

Sarahs Violin and Jose Ruiz were the early leaders but as the wire neared, so did Stone Lake along with HH CJ Shake and Cesar Esqueda and Beach Blast with Juan Marquez aboard. The trio closed with a burst of speed to land at the wire together, giving Stone Lake the edge by a neck over HH CJ Shake. Beach Blast finished another nose back in third.

The winning connections of Stone Lake accept the Born Runner Classic stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

"This horse (Stone Lake) is one of my favorites," said Martinez. "I get on him in the mornings and every chance I get in races. He’s a little nervous at times and going in the gate, but once he’s in, he settles down and does his job."

Stone Lake was overlooked by the bettors, paying $22.20 for the win. The time of the sprint was :19.833, he second quickest in the 14-year history of the event. Bred by Sheri Miller’s Miller Ranch of Shipshewana, Ind., Stone Lake earned his third career stakes win for owner-trainer Tony Cunningham. The petite chestnut gelding now has nine wins in 22 career starts.

"Every year, he seems like a slow starter," said Cunningham. "In his last race, he finished fourth to this group, but he stepped out and ran his race today. He’s a good horse, and he’ll do that at the gate, but they load him in from the side, so you generally don’t see it, but he was last in today, so it was more noticeable."

Cunningham, who has been part of the Indiana Quarter Horse racing program since the beginning in 1997, has a farm in Michigan but also keeps a stable at Horseshoe Indianapolis under the direction of his assistant trainer Sal Villalobos. Cunningham shuffles horses back and forth from the farm a lot, but Stone Lake is a permanent resident at the track.

"Stone Lake takes the winter off each year and spends it at our farm in Michigan," added Cunningham, who has had the horse his entire career. "But once it’s racing season, he comes down here. He likes it here in the summer."

Multiple stakes winner Hh C J Shake earned $16,600 for his second-place finish. Shawna Martin trains the Escondido Beach 6-year-old for Larry Carter, John Myers, Rusty and Bell Hawkins. Bred by Carter and Myers, from the Royal Shake Em mare Shakem Jake, Hh C J Shake has earned $385,883 in 28 career starts. Cesar Esqueda had the riding call.

Also a multiple stakes winner, Beach Blast picked up $8,300 for third to bring his career total to $412,390. Trainer Randy Smith named jockey Juan Marquez to ride the Escondido Beach 5-year-old for owners Keith Bode and Deborah Smith. Sheri Miller bred Beach Blast from Jess Alive Bully by Feature Mr Jess.

The top-three finishers were sired by multiple stakes sire Escondido Beach and have earned a combine $1.18 million dollars.

High Rolling Seize, Jess Go Blue, Sarahs Violin, Beach Front, Chico Beach and Our Game Changer 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.