Heza Hawkeye and German Rodriguez aim to turn heads again in Heartland Futurity Final
Story and Video by Darbie Cullipher, Race Marketing Intern
July 5, 2025 – SHELBYVILLE, IN. For German Rodriguez, the journey from jockey to trainer has come full circle, and just in time for one of the biggest Quarter Horse days of the meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino. On Saturday, July 19, Rodriguez will return to the paddock with a special mount, Heza Hawkeye, a Texas-bred 2-year-old gelding who earned the fastest qualifying time of :17.555 in the Heartland Futurity Trials on Saturday, June 28.
With a $172,480 purse, the Heartland Futurity Final is one of several major stakes races on Saturday, July 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, which will feature the $195,800 Gordon Mobley Futurity, $127,700 Blue River Derby, and the $134,200 Jaguar Rocket Futurity.
Rodriguez has been a licensed jockey since 2008 where his first mount came aboard Date Me at Hawthorne, but 2025 marks a major milestone: earning his trainer’s license. Inspired by his father, who both rode and trained horses at Horseshoe Indianapolis, German took on the challenge with his fiancé by his side.
“It was a lot of bookwork,” Rodriguez said. “Me and my fiancé (Ryleigh Fisher) stayed up studying for that test for a while.”
That hard work paid off. Now both trainer and jockey for Heza Hawkeye, Rodriguez has guided the young gelding through his first two career starts for Chavez Racing, managed by Roberto Chavez. Interestingly, the connection didn’t begin with instant chemistry.
“When Roberto (Chavez) first asked me if I liked him, I said not really,” said Rodriguez. “But when I showed up to work, he was in the barn, and we had to break him.”
What began with doubt became a standout partnership, and the relationship with Heza Hawkeye has developed. Calm and composed in the barn, Rodriguez describes the colt’s temperament as ideal.
“He’s real calm in the barn. He’ll walk around his stall and just lay down,” noted Rodriguez.
That demeanor contrasts with the power Heza Hawkeye showed in the trials, winning by an impressive 2 and one-quarter lengths. Now all focus is on July 19, where German Rodriguez will attempt to make his mark in the Heartland Futurity Final as both the trainer and jockey of a top contender.
©Darbie Cullipher
The all-Quarter Horse Stakes Day is set for 10:45 a.m. Saturday, July 19, featuring an elite day of Quarter Horse racing. In addition to racing, several activities will be available including kid’s activities, Quarter Four contest provided by Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana, food trucks, and winner’s circle giveaways. Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse analyst from Texas, will also be trackside to support the power packed day of racing.
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.
###
About Horseshoe Indianapolis
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. In addition, Horseshoe Indianapolis offers the only live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the state showcased on a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course. Simulcast and sports wagering is offered year-round at Caesars Race & Sportsbook, also located on the casino floor, with additional gaming provided at Caesars Race & Sportsbook in Clarksville, Ind. Players can reap benefits from Caesars Rewards, the industry’s most lucrative bonus program now offered at more than 50 destinations. Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Please play responsibly. If you think you or someone you care about may have a gambling problem, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448). ©2025 Caesars License Company, LLC.
