Escondido Gold strikes in Blue River Derby Trials at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Escondido Gold and Diego Villamil Bocanegra set the gold bar high to kick off three trials of the Blue River Derby Tuesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The top 10 advance to the $127,700 final slated for July 19 for Quarter Horse Stakes Day.

Escondido Gold (photo) came charging out of the gate and was on top of the field by a half-length in the first few strides. The advantage continued to grow as the big sorrel gelding made his way through the 400-yard sprint.

In the end, Escondido Gold was a winner by a comfortable length over Torero Two and Edgar Diaz, who finished a neck ahead of Beach First and Rolando Pina for second. Time of the race was 19.839 seconds.

Escondido Gold earned his first win of the season, paying $10.60 for the win. The Escondido Beach son is owned by Allen J. Brenner’s BFD Farms and trained by Natasha Perez. He is now 5-for-10 during his career, seeking to score his first stakes victory in the final.

Joining Escondido Gold for a win on the evening was Drinkinatacartelbar, last year’s winner of the Jaguar Rocket Futurity. The Five Bar Cartel filly held her ground early inside for jockey L. Daniel Martinez and with horses closing in on the outside at the wire, she was able to score the win by a nose in 19.975, the second fastest time of the trials. Jess A Beach Man and Edgar Diaz finished second over TW Trumps Secrets and Diego Villamil Bocanegra.

Drinkinatacartelbar paid $22.20 as an upset winner for trainer Tony Cunningham. She is owned by Brian Elmore and Duke Racing LLC and earned her fourth win of her career in the effort.

The final trial of the early evening program was secured by Apollitical Mission (photo) and Rolando Pina. They battled early on with stablemate Hoosier Eye Candy and Eduardo Diaz before getting the edge in the end, winning by one-half length in 19.999. Hoosier Eye Candy was second in a four-horse photo that placed AP Political Patriot and Jose Ruiz into third.

Apollitical Mission was the favorite, paying $4.60 for the win. The son of The Transmission earned his third straight win after winning the Harley Greene Derby in his last start. Overall, he is three-for-four in 2025 with five wins overall for owner Phil Harrison, whose father, Dick Harrison bred the gelding before he passed away a few years ago. Tim Eggleston, 2025 leading Quarter Horse trainer, handles the conditioning of Apollitical Mission.

"This horse (Apollitical Mission) is so easy going and laid back, and like Rolando (Pina) told me, ‘He's in my hands the whole way,’” said Eggleston, who qualified three for the Blue River Derby Final. “One thing about a seasoned rider like Rolando is you're not in a trial like this, going to be the fastest qualifier, but he knows when he's a length in front, he's going to save his horse for the finals."

Eggleston noted Apollitical Mission is just as easy to deal with off the track as he is on race day.

"Just a nice horse, and it applies to how you see him standing around the paddock and walking back,” added Eggleston. “He's just a head down quiet horse all the time, puts out there when he needs to."

The final field for the Blue River Derby, in order of time with jockey, includes: Escondido Gold (19.839, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); Drinkinatacartelbar (19.975, Daniel Martinez); Jess A Beach Man (19.982, Edgar Diaz); Torero Two (19.999, Edgar Diaz); Apollitical Mission (19.999, Rolando Pina); Beach First (20.026, Rolando Pina); Hoosier Eye Candy (20.101, Eduardo Diaz); TW Trumps Secrets (20.107, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); CV Sky Kiss (20.12, Fernando Morin); and AP Political Patriot (20.12, Jose Ruiz).

Claudio Barraza will saddle three for the final (Jess A Beach Man, Torero Two, CV Sky Kiss) along with Tim Eggleston, who saddles Apollitical Mission, Beach First, and Hoosier Eye Candy. Natasha Perez has two that will advance to the final, Escondido Gold and TW Trumps Secrets.

The Blue River Derby joins three other stakes finals July 19 for Quarter Horse Stakes Day. Purses will exceed $700,000 on the third all-Quarter Horse Day of 2025.

First post is set for 10:45 a.m. and will be complemented by numerous activities trackside, including food trucks, inflatables, face painting, and winner’s circle promotions. Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst, will be trackside to assist during Quarter Horse Stakes Day.

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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