CJ’s Storm rolls home in William Henry Harrison at Horseshoe Indianapolis

CJ’s Storm and Alberto Burgos rolled home to score the win in the 22^nd running of the $100,000 William Henry Harrison Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It was the third straight win for the pair and the first premier racing victory for CJ’s Storm (photo).

Burgos, 2024 leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis, had a game plan when the gates opened. Along with the game plan were two options. He quickly noted the second option was the best course of action.

“I knew the 10 (Mondavila) was the stronger horse (from the gate) and when I saw he broke better than us, I thought that is okay, we will get in behind him,” said Burgos, who placed CJ’s Storm to the back of Mondavila in the early stages of the six-furlong sprint. “We just sat there the entire way bringing us into the stretch.”

Mondavila and Joe Ramos grabbed a short lead early on from the outside post before Tiz Eddie and Fernando De La Cruz shot up the inside to defend their spot along the rail. Other opponents moved into contention early, pushing Mondavila four wide at times before backing off heading into the only turn.

Coming out of the turn, it was only Mondavila and Tiz Eddie left fighting for the lead. CJ’s Storm was still several lengths back in fourth but angled out and began to make up ground slowly on the leaders. In the last sixteenth, CJ’s Storm powered up and overtook both horses to win the race by three-quarters of a length. Mondavila finished second over Tiz Eddie.

“This horse (CJ’s Storm) never gives up,” noted Burgos. “He tries all the way to the wire. This is one of the only horses I do this with, but I yell at him when we get in the stretch. I start saying ‘Come on CJ, come on boy, you can do it.’ He tries so hard, and he is improving. He just gets better and better. I get on him to breeze him in the mornings. He’s very laid back and easy to ride, but when you turn to work him, you better hang on.”

CJ’s Storm paid $15.80 as a mild upset winner of the William Henry Harrison. The Storm’s Eye five-year-old gelding is owned by Haran Thoroughbreds, and Janet and Charles Watt. It was his sixth trip to the winner’s circle for his career, and he moved over the $200,000 in earnings for his connections.

“We bought him from the Indiana sale (2021) as a yearling,” noted Haran, who has trained the horse his entire career. “I’ve been pretty lucky with foals from Storm’s Eye. I have bought every one of them that this mare (Perfect List) has produced. They stand good. They have good attitudes, they are sound, and they win races. We’ve had several winners from the group. The youngest one is three now.”

A native of Ireland, Haran grew up in a family who had a passion for horses, including several blacksmiths by trade. He ran a few in Ireland before coming to the United States and running a successful construction gig. He then decided it was time to revisit his love of horses and racing, and made Chicago his home for years, having upwards of 200 horses at times and four stallions for his 80 brood mares. Haran has since pared down his operations and no longer owns a farm, but he still maintains a string in Chicago as well as Horseshoe Indianapolis each year. He races at Oaklawn during the winter months but keeps part of his horses in Indiana year-round.

Haran and the Watts have had a partnership in racing for the past decade. Charles raced horses 50 years ago and got back in the business with his wife, Janet, who is retired from a steel company. The Coulterville, Ill., couple were part owners of Sucess is Racing, two-time Indiana Horse of the Year from the Kim Hammond barn, who won the William Henry Harrison twice (2014 and 2016). With the win from CJ’s Storm, the Watts are now three-time winners of the race.

“CJ (Storm) finished third last year and was beat a nose right at the wire for second by Pickle Feet,” noted Charles Watt, who is retired from the printing business. “I remember that race very well. It was a long wait to get the win, but it was worth it. Janet and I come up every time we can to watch. It’s quite a drive, but we enjoy watching him race.”

The trips for the Watts couple have been worthwhile in 2025. CJ’s Storm is now three for three in 2025 and Haran knows it’s a good partnership with his horse and Burgos.

$100,000 Shelby County

One year made a big difference for Imagine the Moon. The five-year-old mare finished second in the $100,000 Shelby County last season. This year was her year to visit the winner’s circle, bringing home the title in the 23^rd running of the event, one of the oldest premier races at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Guided by Abel Cedillo, Imagine the Moon (photo) began from post two but her time near the leaders was delayed as Crosley and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. and Eye Shadow, ridden by Alberto Burgos occupied the top spots in the early stages of the six-furlong race.

Werk It Wendy and Rodney Prescott joined them along the outside. Cedillo sat patiently on Imagine the Moon around the only turn of the race and coming into the stretch, he had the mare ready for action.

Werk It Wendy had taken over the top spot and was primed and in position for a good stretch drive. However, Imagine the Moon proved to be a worthy opponent. With her long stride, she gained ground with every step, passing by for the win in the final strides. Werk It Wendy finished second, just a half-length back and two lengths ahead of third place finisher The Kid Pataky, who saved ground inside for Joe Ramos and moved up for a place in the top three.

“We didn’t break as sharp as I wanted but there was a lot of speed in the race, so it worked out fine,” noted Cedillo, who recently relocated to the Midwest from California and is currently based at Churchill Downs. “We sat in behind and in the stretch, she took me to the wire easy. She’s a tough mare with a big stride.”

Imagine the Moon was a mild upset winner, paying $10.60 for the win. The daughter of Ready’s Image is a homebred for Katie and Tony Duran’s Rancho Monarca of Shelbyville, Ind. It was her seventh career win and her second premier racing title.

“There was a lot of speed in this race, so I told Abel (Cedillo) if he broke well, to go to the lead, but if he didn’t just to stay back off the leaders,” said Tony Duran. “He did exactly what we asked. He has really good hands and it worked out perfect.”

Imagine the Moon was making her first start since April. However, Duran noted he doesn’t want to rush her.

“There just wasn’t a good race for her and I didn’t want to push her,” added Tony. “We just find spots for her. She is a big horse with a big body and a big stride. She’s kind of mean, but other than that, she’s good to work with. Nino, my assistant, gets along well with her. She eats lots of carrots.”

Imagine the Moon had a slightly different path in her younger days of racing. One of their owners, Dwayne Tinkle, has a weanling and needed a pasture mate. Imagine the Moon moved to his farm.

“She and Rileys Redemption grew up together as yearlings,” noted Tinkle. “I told Tony (Duran) from the start she was going to be a stakes winner. She was so fast in the field. Both of those horses ended up being great racehorses for us.”

The Durans raced the dam of Imagine the Moon, Themoonandthestars. She finished fifth in the Shelby County in 2010 before heading to the brood mare ranks. The mare produced several foals for the Durans and several winners, but because of her age, they decided to stop breeding her and gave her away to a friend. No doubt, Imagine the Moon will wind up at the Duran’s farm when she retires from racing.

The 23^rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Nov. 13.

For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.

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