Heza Hawkeye has eye on Heartland Futurity prize at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Heza Hawkeye and German Rodriguez established themselves as the top pair to catch during the Heartland Futurity Trials Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

A total of 53 starters were included in six trials to narrow the field down to the top 10 headed to the $172,480 Heartland Futurity Final, offering the largest purse in the 17-year history of the race.

Heza Hawkeye (main photo) was out of the gate with a blast from the outside post nine and took control early on in the 350-yard dash. As the race unfolded, so did Heza Hawkeye, opening up with every stride to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 17.555 seconds. Remember Da Queen and Eduardo Diaz won the tight photo with Suzys Kristine and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez to finished second.

Heza Hawkeye is unique in Rodriguez serves as both his trainer and his jockey. The grey son of Hawkeye was a bit of a surprise, paying $19.80 for the win. It was his second start for owner Chavez Racing, managed by Roberto Chavez. The Texas bred was a $8,500 purchase from the Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale last fall.

When asked what changed between his first and second start in the past month, Rodriguez replied, “What changed was he (Heza Hawkeye) grew up (from) the first race. He was a kid. I put a flipping halter on him. We broke him out of the gates on the backside (in the morning), and he just popped it over the chute. He corrected himself a lot, and that's what happened today. We put him on the rig again, and he ran his race."

Heza Hawkeye is part of the third crop of Texas stallion Hawkeye, who was the second leading second-crop sire last year. Chris Duke, president of the Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana, has had great success with another son of Hawkeye, Hawkeye Vision, who competed in the recent Grade 1 $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park.

"Chris Duke has a hot guy right now (Hawkeye Vision) and this hot guy right here (Heza Hawkeye) is the same breeding but a different mama,” said Rodriguez. “But I told Chris this hot guy (Heza Hawkeye) is something else. I told him since the beginning when we broke him, he was good."

Rodriguez has insight into his horses since he’s the one that gets on them every morning. Heza Hawkeye stood out from the beginning for the accomplished jockey and first year trainer.

“There is an advantage to being the jockey and the trainer,” smiled Rodriguez. “You can ride your horse in the morning, the trainer is not gonna ride him in the morning, you have to believe everything the rider is telling you on your horse. I don't have to tell that to myself."

Rodriguez is optimistic about the horses in his barn this season.

"I think this is one of the biggest horses we got running,” added Rodriguez about Heza Hawkeye. “I think it's one of the best. But you know some horses might jump up and surprise us this year."

A horse that wasn’t a surprise in the Heartland Futurity Trials was WR Hott Shott (photo), a recent addition to the Tim Eggleston barn. The One Famous Eagle son, ridden by Eduardo Diaz, made his first start over the Horseshoe Indianapolis surface a winning one, scoring the second fastest time of the day in his trial and second on the list of times behind Heza Hawkeye in 17.609. Roses After Midnight (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez) finished a nose back in second over Delreys Rollin Bayou and Francisco Quintero.

WR Hott Shott was making his third start after a win at Remington Park. It was the first start out of the Eggleston barn for the Oklahoma bred owned by Raymond Whitmire.

"He shipped him from Remington,” noted Eggleston, who is the track’s leading Quarter Horse trainer this season. “We've had him about 40 days or so and he's just a really nice horse to train. He ran well out there. He comes from a great breeder Mr. Whitmire."

It’s been a good week for the Eggleston barn. He connected with Jolie Laide in the $132,080 Horseshoe Indianapolis QHRAI Derby the week prior. The filly’s younger brother, The Unsung Hero, came back to score his second win in as many starts in his trial of the Heartland Futurity, the fifth fastest time of the day.

“That’s a half sibling to Jolie Laide,” said Eggleston of The Unsung Hero. “He's a nice horse. He made a couple little mistakes but had a good race. I expect him to come back in the finals and will be tough. They are a lot alike. I think it comes from the mama. Both are very quiet, very laid-back horses. They are very nice horses. You know, they get in the barn and relax."

Eggleston will saddle three for the Heartland Futurity Final, WR Hott Shott, The Unsung Hero, and Remember Da Queen. He is joined by Jessi Vazquez, who saddles two (Roses After Midnight, Suzys Kristine) along with Claudio Barraza, who also saddles two (Paint Me Sass, First Angel).

The entire field, in order of time with jockey, for the Heartland Futurity Final includes: Heza Hawkeye (17.555, German Rodriguez); WR Hott Shott (17.609, Eduardo Diaz); Roses After Midnight (17.617, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); Remember Da Queen (17.929, Eduardo Diaz); The Unsung Hero (17.941, Eduardo Diaz); Paint Me Sass (17.945, Edgar Diaz); First Angel (17.975, Edgar Diaz); Suzys Kristine (17.983, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); Mr Blood Carver (18.007, Francisco Quintero); and Delrays Rollin Bayou (18.022, Francisco Quintero).

Five of the six trial winners advance to the final (Heza Hawkeye, WR Hott Shott, The Unsung Hero, First Angel, and Mr Blood Carver. Apollitical Speed, the sixth trial winner, was ranked 11^th and will be an also eligible for the Heartland Futurity Final.

The Heartland Futurity Final will be one of four July 19 during Quarter Horse Stakes Day. Purses will exceed $700,000 for the day dedicated to the sprinters. 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.

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