Runninagainstdwind and Martin Munoz captured the quickest trial of five to lead the final field into the $132,080 Horseshoe Indianapolis QHRAI Derby Final set for Thursday, June 19. The duo covered the 400-yard distance in a time of :19.864 among 44 starters in the trials. The event was part of the first All Quarter Horse racing day of 2025 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Runninagainstdwind was making his first start of 2025 after completing his freshman year with one win and a third place finish in the $212,000 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity last year. It was his first start in nine months, but he proved he was ready for the trial. Starting from post four, Munoz quickly got him into contention in the center of the track and battled with Streakin Little Jess and German Rodriguez in the early stages. Midway through the race, Runninagainstdwind started getting a small advantage and carried that through the wire to win by a neck over Apolitical Wagon and Giovani Vazquez Gomez, who closed on the outside for second. Streakin Little Jess finished third.
Runninagainstdwind paid $11.60 for the win. The Oklahoma bred son of Uncle D is owned by Carlos Ramos and trained by Ricardo Martinez. H & E Ranch bred the sophomore sprinter, who is now two for six in his young career.
The second fastest trial winner on the day was the Tim Eggleston trained Jolie Laide in a time of :19.939. The Big Lew homebred filly owned and raised by Doug Ruby gained a short advantage early and carried her speed for jockey Eduardo Diaz through the wire for the win by one length over Dragon Dynasty and Fernando Morin. Tempt Me Sass and Erik Esqueda finished third. The time posted by Jolie Laide was the fourth fastest of the qualifiers behind the first three finishers of the race won by Runninagainstdwind.
The other trial winner on the day, but not a finalist was Play Fair, ridden by L. Daniel Martinez.
The final field for the Horseshoe Indianapolis QHRAI Derby, in order of time with jockey, includes: Runninagainstdwind (:19.864, Martin Munoz); Apolitical Wagon (:19.925, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); Streakin Little Jess (:19.929, German Rodriguez); Jolie Laide (:19.939, Eduardo Diaz); Can D Girl (:19.942, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); Checkn Me Out (:20.046, Francisco Quintero); Jefris Gold Wagon (:20.076, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); Dragon Dynasty (:20.091, Fernando Morin); This Is The One (:20.092, Francisco Quintero); and Sweet and Hott (:20.104, Erik Esqueda). Trainer Jessi Vazquez, the track’s all-time leading female Quarter Horse trainer, will saddle two for the final (Apolitical Wagon, Can D Girl).
Five remaining dates for the 2025 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis will feature all Quarter Horse action. The following Saturdays, with a first post of 10:45 a.m. are June 28, July 19, Aug. 9, Aug. 30, and Oct. 4. Winners in the final Quarter Horse stakes of the season will be determined during the sixth annual Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 25 with four stakes on the program including the Restricted Grade 3 Miss Roxie Little Futurity.
