HH Shakem Cate quickest in Blue River Derby Trials at Horseshoe Indianapolis

HH Shakem Cate and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, Indiana’s all-time leading jockey by wins, turned in the quickest time over three trials Tuesday for the Blue River Derby.

The duo covered the 400-yard sprint in 20.056 seconds to lead the way to the $126,700 final slated for July 18 during Quarter Horse Stakes Day.

HH Shakem Cate (photo) took the lead from the outside post eight in the first jump out of the gate and held her ground all the way to the wire for the win by one-half length. Rock N the Beach and Rolando Pina were placed up to second following a disqualification. Coyote Kiss and L. Daniel Martinez finished third.

HH Shakem Cate paid $15.00 for the win. The royally bred daughter of Escondido Beach is owned by Brisa Alia Ventura Hernandez and trained by Jessi Vazquez, the state’s all-time leading female Quarter Horse trainer. She was purchased from the QHRAI Speed Sale as a yearling for $25,000 from breeders Larry Carter and John Myers. She is a full sister to top five all-time Indiana sired contender HH CJ Shake with more than $440,000 on his card.

HH Shakem Cate is now four for five in her career as she seeks her first stakes win in the Blue River Derby Final.

Joining HH Shakem Cate as a top qualifier is CV Denali, who earned her third straight win in the first trial of the night to set the bar at 20.074. The daughter of Escondido Beach vied with Cowgirl Beach and Vazquez-Gomez for the early lead before pulling away to a three-quarter length advantage at the wire, remaining undefeated in 2026 with Edgar Diaz aboard. Seven Baches and Isidro Banuelos moved up for second followed by A Flare for Politics and Eduardo Diaz.

CV Denali was the heavy favorite, paying $2.40 for the win. The sophomore daughter of Escondido Beach also comes from a very successful Indiana family as the younger sibling to Botticelli Beach and Shakeitonthebeach, both stakes winners. CV Denali is now six for seven in her career under the direction of trainer Claudio Barraza and owner Campos Family Ventures, who purchased the filly privately as a yearling from breeder Sheri Miller.

The third trial was won by Heza Classy Cowboy, the third fastest qualifier on the day. He was ridden to victory in the final trial by L. Daniel Martinez for trainer Tony Cunningham, who recently celebrated his 1,000^th career training victory in Quarter Horse racing.

The full field for the Blue River Derby, in order of time with jockey, includes: HH Shakem Cate (20.056, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez); CV Denali (20.074, Edgar Diaz); 3, Heza Classy Cowboy (20.160, L. Daniel Martinez); Beach Burner (20.177, Fernando Morin); Seven Beaches (20.201, Isidro Banuelos); Rock N the Beach (20.258, Rolando Pina); Coyote Kiss (20.346, L. Daniel Martinez); A Flare for Politics (20.380, Eduardo Diaz); TW No Beach Secrets (20.394, Diego Villamil); and Jess Shake Baby (20.465, Cristian Penaloza).

Trainer Tony Cunningham (Heza Classy Cowboy, Seven Beaches, Coyote Kiss) saddles three for the final with Claudio Barraza (CV Denali, Beach Burner) and Tim Eggleston (Rock N the Beach, A Flare for Politics) saddling two.

The $126,700 Blue River Derby will be part of four stakes on the day July 18 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Tagged as Quarter Horse Stakes Day, action gets underway at 10:45 a.m. and will be supported by nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst Martha Claussen, who will be trackside.

In addition to the Blue River Derby, the day will feature the $136,200 Jaguar Rocket Futurity, the $195,200 Gordon Mobley Futurity, and the $194,520 Heartland Futurity with purses surging over the $700,000 mark for the day.

The Bradford Stakes, which was set for today has been moved to Monday. The entire program at Horseshoe Indianapolis for Wednesday will move to Monday due to predicted elevated heat indexes during the day.

The Bradford Stakes is now in its 28^th running for Quarter Horse racing in the state of Indiana.

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