HH Shakem Cate rattled and rolled home as the top qualifier Saturday, June 28 from the Gordon Mobley Futurity Trials. A total of 44 starters vied for a top 10 spot headed to the $195,800 final set for Saturday, July 19 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
HH Shakem Cate and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, Indiana’s all-time leading Quarter Horse jockey by wins, began from post one and never wavered, holding her ground inside with S Predestinado and Oscar Macias showing speed from the outside. As the wire neared in the 350-yard dash, HH Shakem Cate was able to get a larger advantage on her opponents and won easily by one length in a time of :17.815 seconds. Rock N the Beach and Rolando Pina finished second over Jess Shake Baby and Fernando Morin for third.
HH Shakem Cate was the favorite in the race, coming off a win in her only previous start for trainer Jessi Vazquez. Brisa Alle Ventura Hernandez owns the sorrel daughter of Escondido Beach. Larry Carter and John Myers bred the filly, who displays their farm moniker “HH” in her name.
HH Shakem Cate is a full sister to HH CJ Shake, who is among the top five all-time leading Indiana sired Quarter Horses in Indiana with more than $444,000 on his card and 10 career wins. The multiple Indiana stakes winner was campaigned by breeders Carter and Myers along with Rusty Hawkins and was a longtime member of the Paul Martin barn before he passed away. His daughter, Shawna Martin, took over training duties for the talented gelding, who is now eight.
Another top contender for the Mobley Trials was also a filly with a rich past in Indiana. CV Denali won her racing debut in the very first trial of the day, coasting home in :17.991 to rank third on the list headed to the Mobley Futurity Final.
The Escondido Beach filly broke out of the gate on top from post three for jockey Edgar Diaz and never looked back, scoring her trial win by three-quarters of a length. Moonin to the Jazz and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez finished second over I Stoli Yo Ferrari and Eduardo Diaz.
“This was a first time starter (CV Denali) so I was just hoping for her to not panic or do anything crazy,” said Claudio Barraza, who trains. “But she did everything right. I had a lot of faith in her. We bought this one as a yearling. We decided to wait to run her until the trials.”
CV Denali was a bit of a surprise for the win, paying $15.40 to her backers. She follows full sisters Shakeitonthebeach and Botticelli Beach into the Mobley Futurity Final. Both older siblings won the event with Shakeitonthebeach winning in 2019 followed by Botticelli Beach in 2021. Barraza also trained Botticelli Beach. CV Denali was renamed by current owners Campos Family Ventures after being purchased from breeder Sheri Miller. Barraza sees similarities in the two fillies.
“They are both really hot headed, always on their toes, they have a lot of energy, and they’re spunky,” said Barraza. “They’re similar when it comes to body, attitude and everything. The only difference is the color; Botticelli Beach was gray. This filly is chestnut.”
In between HH Shakem Cate and CV Denali was the second fastest trial winner of the day, TW No Beach Secrets. Ridden by Diego Villamil Bocenegra for trainer Natasha Perez, the gelding, also by Escondido Beach, used the outside path from post nine to find his way to the winner’s circle, winning by one and one-quarter lengths at the wire in :17.961. Political Winnr and Daniel Martinez finished second over One Sweet Wagon and Fernando Morin for third.
TW No Beach Secrets was a mild upset winner, paying $10.60 to win. Tom Wylie bred and raised the gelding, who was making his second career start in the Mobley Futurity Trials.
The entire field, in order of time with jockey, for the Mobley Futurity Final includes: HH Shakem Cate (:17.815, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); TW No Beach Secrets (:17.961, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); CV Denali (:17.991, Edgar Diaz); Rock N The Beach (:17.991, Rolando Pina); Beachum (:18.03, Jose Ruiz); Lil Mz Win (:18.07, Eduardo Diaz); Jess Shake Baby (:18.113, Fernando Morin); Moonin to the Jazz (18:123,Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); S Predestinado (:18.162, Oscar Macias); and Lead Me to the Beach (:18.174, Edgar Diaz). Jessi Vazquez (HH Shakem Cate, Moonin to the Jazz), Claudio Barraza (CV Denali, Lead Me to the Beach), Tim Eggleston (Rock N The Beach, Lil Mz Win), and Ron Raper (Beachum, Jess Shake Baby) will all saddle two horses in the final.
All five trial winners advanced to the final, including HH Shakem Cate, TW No Beach Secrets, CV Denali, Beachum, and Lead Me To the Beach.
The Gordon Mobley Futurity Final will be one of four Saturday, July 19 during Quarter Horse Stakes Day. Purses will exceed $700,000 for the day dedicated to the sprinters. First post is set for 10:45 a.m. and will be complemented by numerous activities trackside, including food trucks, inflatables, face painting, and winner’s circle promotions. Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst, will be trackside to assist during Quarter Horse Stakes Day.
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.
