Heza Classy Cowboy keeps streak going in Bertram Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Heza Classy Cowboy seems to have found his winning stride at the right time. The Indiana bred gelding is now three for three including his first career stakes victory in the 18^th running of the $131,800 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Heza Classy Cowboy began from post three for L. Daniel Martinez and was immediately part of the story as the race unfolded. He was neck and neck with Victory Beach and Fernando Morin as well as stablemate Seven Beaches and Isidro Banuelos in the initial stages of the 400-yard dash.

Near the wire, Heza Classy Cowboy had a great surge that got him past his opponents on both sides of him for the win by a neck in 20.251. Initially, Seven Beaches finished second but was disqualified due to interference, moving Cowgirl Beach and Giovani Vazquez Gomez up to second with Victory Beach finishing third.

“He (Heza Classy Cowboy) felt really relaxed and confident, especially in the gate,” said Martinez, who has been aboard for all 14 career starts. “Once we were out of the gate, he was determined and kept going and going.”

Heza Classy Cowboy was a mild upset winner, paying $10.80 for the win. The Flying Cowboy 123 sophomore is owned by Chris Duke’s Duke Racing and was bred in Indiana by Patrick Easter. It was his fourth win of 2026 in seven starts and his sixth win overall.

Heza Classy Cowboy more than doubled his career bankroll with his first stakes victory, now topping more than $132,000 in earnings.

“This horse (Heza Classy Cowboy) keeps getting better and better,” noted trainer Tony Cunningham. “He’s been messing up in the gate. Every time we get him qualified, he has a bad trip for the finals. I have to give credit to my assistant Salvador (Villalobos) and the team for getting him ready for his last three races. They are getting him where he needs to be. And I thank the Dukes for trusting us with him. He has now won three in a row so he’s turning into a consistent horse for us.”

It was the second win in the Bertram Memorial, which is named after Indiana Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana Hall of Fame horseman Sterlie Bertram, for Cunningham, who set the stakes record in the race with Stone Lake in 2021.

Cunningham is the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse owner with three titles and is currently in second among the trainer standings this year. He is also ranked second in track history for most Indiana stakes wins by a trainer.

Cunningham has several qualified for the upcoming Indiana Champions Day on Oct. 24. Quarter Horses will be featured in six stakes on the day, which includes six Thoroughbred premier events followed by six Quarter Horse stakes.

Purses will exceed $1.6 million, the most for a single day of racing in Horseshoe Indianapolis history. First post is noon for the seventh annual Indiana Champions Day.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.