Apollitical Mission tops Sterlie Bertram Memorial Trials at Horseshoe Indianapolis

There was no stopping Apollitical Mission in the second of two trials Monday for the Sterlie Bertram Memorial.

The three-year-old was on a serious mission, powering down the stretch and into the top spot among the 10 advancing to the final on Oct. 8, during the final all-Quarter Horse racing program at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Guided by Rolando Pina, Apollitical Mission was ready to go when the gates opened. With the outside post, he rallied up into contention early, but it was his lengthening stride in the final half of the 400-yard dash that was most impressive. He powered by his opponents in the final eight strides of the race to win by one and one-half lengths in a time of 19.999 seconds.

Paradise Beach and Edgar Diaz held their ground inside the entire way to repel the rest of the field for second over Wildcat Lover and Leonardo Rodriguez, who flew into ride two for Eggleston in the trials.

Apollitical Mission is owned by Phillip Harrison and was one of the final foals for longtime breeder Walter R. “Dick” Harrison before he passed away. The Transmission son earned his fourth win in six starts this season and his sixth win overall. He looks to add the Bertram Memorial Final to his credentials when he goes in the starting gate Oct. 8.

Tim Eggleston trains the big brown gelding, who already has more than $150,000 on his card.

Joining Apollitical Mission for a win in the other trial was another Eggleston trainee WR’s Mynameisrip, ridden by Horseshoe Indianapolis current leading Quarter Horse jockey Eduardo Diaz. The Tarzanito gelding had a similar journey, closing in late on the outside accompanied by AP Political Patriot and Francisco Quintero to his outside.

The two horses hit the wire together in a race that had all nine entrants across the track. WRs Mynameisrip was a winner by a neck over AP Political Patriot. Zoomin Feature, who was in contention the entire way along the inside for Edgar Diaz, got the edge by a head for third in the six-horse photo at the finish line. Time of the sprint was 20.237.

WRs Mynameisrip is owned by Williams Racing Stable of LaCenter, Ky. Gwen and Randy Williams bred and raised the impressive looking gelding, who is out of a half-sister, WRs Hava Cricket, to the Williams great WRs Valentino, winner of 15 of his 30 career races with earnings of more than $566,000 while racing exclusively in Indiana.

Eggleston now trains WRs Mynameisrip, who earned his fifth career win and first of 2025. The Restricted Grade 3 winner of the Miss Roxie Little Futurity last fall is nearing $200,000 in career earnings for his connections.

The entire field headed to the Sterlie Bertram Memorial Final, in order of time with jockey, includes: Apollitical Mission (19.999, Rolando Pina); WRs Mynameisrip (20.237, Eduardo Diaz); AP Political Patriot (20.260, Francisco Quintero); Zoomin Feature (20.268, Edgar Diaz); Paradise Beach (20.268, Edgar Diaz); HF Just Reno (20.282, Leonardo Rodriguez); Beach First (20.341, Rolando Pina); Drinkinatacartelbar (20.356, L. Daniel Martinez); DNA Dales Winner (20.390, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); and Louisiana in Love (20.472, German Rodriguez).

Eggleston who had six starters in the two trials, has four headed into the final (Apollitical Mission, WRs Mynameisrip, HF Just Reno, Beach First) while Claudio Barraza will saddle two for the final (Zoomin Feature, Paradise Beach).

The final all-Quarter Horse Day will include trials for the Restricted Grade 3 Miss Roxie Little Futurity as well as trials for the Governor’s Stakes with the day’s racing program beginning at 10:45 a.m. Both finals come back during the sixth annual Indiana Champions Day, featuring the state’s top Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses vying for more than $1.1 million in purses.

The day is also supported by numerous trackside activities, including a Cigar Rolling Station, handicapping contests, $3,000 Megabet drawings, and a special appearance by Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst.

First post for Indiana Champions Day is 11 a.m.

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