A Flare for Politics also has a flare for dramatics. The freshman gelding qualified in eighth place to advance to the final as a maiden. He was one of three saddled by Tim Eggleston in the race and the slowest of the trio. However, he was not intimidated as he stepped into the gate for the Restricted Grade 3 $230,111 Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana (QHRAI) Stallion Service Auction (SSA) Futurity Saturday, August 30 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
A Flare for Politics teamed up with multiple Graded Stakes winning jockey Jorge Torres, who traveled in from Prairie Meadows to ride. The duo got out of the gate without an issue and got into the early mix in the 350-yard dash. Seven Beaches and L. Daniel Martinez were holding their own along the inside as five horses on the outside, including heavy favorite Heza Hawkeye, were caught up in major traffic problems. Midway through the race, A Flare for Politics took over and was able to get the jump on the field, winning by one-half length at odds of 45-1. Beach Burner and Edgar Diaz closed on the outside for second over Seven Beaches. Time of the race was :17.926.
“This horse (A Flare for Politics) has really been maturing,” noted Eggleston. “I can see a big difference in him lately. I called Mr. Jorge (Torres) to come up and I thank him for coming in to ride. I told him this horse will really run for you. Just ride him like an old horse. I know there were some issues on the outside today, but it worked out for this horse to run his race. I thank Phil (Harrison) for allowing me to train him.”
A Flare for Politics paid $93.60. The son of Flare for Ivory is out of the Harrison family’s foundation mare Precious Libby, a multiple stakes winner who went on to produce stakes winners, including Precious Debutante, the granddam of A Flare for Politics who was a multiple Graded Stakes placed mare and winner of the Governor’s Stakes at Hoosier Park in 1999.
A Flare for Politics scored his first career win in the race. It was his fourth career start as he catapulted his earnings to more than $144,000. Although the homebred gelding had never visited the winner’s circle, he has not finished off the board in his brief career, choosing the right time to piece together a good effort for the Harrison family, who has a long history of breeding and racing quality Quarter Horses in the Midwest.
“This horse (A Flare for Politics) is very interesting,” noted Phil, who took over operations of the family’s racing business from his father, Walter “Dick” Harrison, following his passing in early 2024. “We were not expecting these results today. I actually thought our other horse (Victory Beach) had a better shot. Dad (Dick Harrison) had been doing this for 50-60 years and really enjoyed it. Now, we are continuing with this and enjoying it.”
Two years ago, jockey statues were added to the outside of the winner’s circle to depict the winning silks of each of the four Graded Stakes races in Indiana, two of which are reserved for Quarter Horse stakes, including the QHRAI SSA Futurity. Eggleston’s blue and white silks will be painted onto the figure to represent the win by A Flare for Politics.
It was the 28th running of the race since it arrived back home in Indiana when pari-mutuel racing was implemented in 1997 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Prior to that time, it was held at several tracks, rotating around between Iowa, former Indiana county fair tracks, and Illinois, to name a few locations. This is the second year for the Restricted Grade 3 status for the QHRAI SSA Futurity.
The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.
