CV Denali dominant in Blue River Derby

There is just no stopping CV Denali.

The Indiana sired filly was a strong winner in the 24^th running of the $126,700 Blue River Derby during the third all-Quarter Horse Day Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Rain showers moved the track to muddy in the race before the Blue River Derby. However, rain showers rolled on by, and the sun was out for the Blue River Derby.

Starting from post five, CV Denali could have been distracted as the horse to her outside popped in the gate as the field took off. She remained focused and was in contention for the lead throughout the entire 400-yard sprint.

HH Shakem Cate and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez were putting up a good fight along the inside with Seven Beaches and Isidro Banuelos also in the mix. But CV Denali always has that extra push at the end that brought her under the wire as the winner by one and one-half lengths over HH Shakem Cate.

Seven Beaches was just a nose ahead of TW No Beach Secrets (Diego Villamil) and Beach Burner (Fernando Morin) who finished in a dead heat for fourth. This time, it was younger brother Eduardo Diaz giving his older brother Edgar a big hug as the horses were returning to the winner’s circle, showing the strong bond between the two brothers. Time of the race was 19.800 seconds.

Despite having the second fastest time from the trials, CV Denali was the overwhelming favorite, paying $3.00 for the win. She is now the only Quarter Horse to win four races this season.

In fact, she has only one second place finish in eight career starts. Her career bankroll now soars to more than $345,000 for owner Campos Family Ventures. The daughter of Escondido Beach is the latest from the mare Botticelli Shake, who has provided trainer Claudio Barraza with several stakes’ winners, including Botticelli Beach.

“She is just a once in a lifetime kind of horse,” said Barraza, who is also the longtime trainer of Mr Michel, Indiana’s all-time richest Quarter Horse. “She has a lot of talent. She’s just special.”

With the weather taking a turn just before the event, it might have put a question mark in many people’s minds of how she would handle a muddy track for the first time, but Barraza was not worried.

“She’s all heart,” added Barraza. “I don’t think that (muddy track) was going to stop her.”

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