Nachor Secret dominant in Born Runner Classic at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Nachor Secret and Martin Munoz were dominant from start to finish to score the title in the 16^th running of the Born Runner Classic Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The Indiana sired gelding won by open lengths in a time of 19.482 seconds in a new stakes record.

Nachor Secret (photo) shot out of the gate like a bullet and was on top of the field in one stride. The powerful four-year-old opened up on the field midway through the 400-yard dash and kept extending his lead, crossing under the wire with a one and three-quarter length advantage.

Streakindownthebeach and Eduardo Diaz closed in gamely to grab the second spot over Tachas Secret. Martinez scored the first and third spots in the race as he also trains Tachas Secret. They were two of four entrants in the race for Martinez, who is based out of the Chicagoland area.

Nachor Secret paid $4.40 to his backers. The stout, well-built gelding earned his sixth win in 12 career starts. He has not missed the board except for one start in his entire career.

The Born Runner title was his third stakes victory for Martinez, who bred and raised the gelding. Martinez campaigned both his dam, Eyes a Favorite and the sire Habits Secret, a Graded Stakes placed runner and one of the top Quarter Horse stallions in the state of Indiana with very limited foals.

After earning a spot among the top five nationally as a leading freshman stallion in 2018, he has continued to pump out stakes winners and was the state’s 2024 Sire of the Year with over $1.7 million in earnings from his foals last season. Nachor Secret is part of that success and continues to carry on the winning tradition on for Martinez.

“He (Nachor Secret) has been a good money earner,” noted the soft-spoken Martinez. “We had four in here today. We try to put them in a race that fits them, including this horse.”

Nachor Secret surged over the $200,000 mark in earnings with his win in the Born Runner Classic. The race is named in honor of another great Indiana sire, Born Runner, who was inducted into the QHRAI Hall of Fame in 2019.

Harley Greene Derby

Named after one of the most beloved Quarter Horse figures in the state, the 11^th running of the $100,500 Harley Greene Derby was won by Apollitical Mission.

Apollitical Mission wasn’t the first name heard out of the gate as the big son of The Transmission took a few strides to get in gear during the 350-yard dash. Jess a Beach Man and Martin Munoz were the first to get the advantage out of the gate, holding their ground in the center of the track.

Apollitical Mission finally hit another gear midway through the race and was gaining ground on the outside with every step. He hit the wire at the precise time to grab the win in 17.70 seconds. Zoomin Feature and Edgar Diaz finished a neck back in second followed by Jess A Beach Man for third in the seven-horse photo.

Both Zoomin Feature and Jess a Beach Man are trained by Claudio Barraza.

“He (Apollitical Mission) hung for a little bit, but I think he realized he needed to get going,” said Pina. “He responded and was really closing in.”

Apollitical Mission paid $5.40 for his efforts in the Greene Derby. He is owned by Phillip Harrison and trained by Tim Eggleston. The homebred gelding was bred by Phillip’s father, Dick, prior to his passing a few years ago.

 Apollitical Mission boosted his career earnings to more than $140,000 with the win, nearly doubling his previous tally. He now has four wins in 10 career starts and is two for three in 2025.

Maiden Stakes

The first of three stakes on Saturday’s racing program kicked off with the $30,000 Maiden Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The winner was determined in a blanket finish that had four horses circling outside the winner’s circle awaiting the photo.

Celtic Cartel had a nose on the line first to score the victory in 17.750 seconds for rider Rolando Pina.

Celtic Cartel began from post three and got one of the first calls from the gate from Track Announcer John G. Dooley. Heading down the stretch of the 350-yard dash brought the entire field into a tightly packed bunch.

The outside horses began to close in late, but Celtic Cartel defended his edge for the win by a nose over Jazzys Encore and Antonio Rodriguez. Mercy Im Hot and Eduardo Diaz finished third another nose back to give Trainer Tim Eggleston a first and third in the race.

Eggleston had three qualify for the final. Pina picked early on to ride Celtic Cartel, who also won his trial in the quickest time of the qualifiers.

“I guess I picked the right one this time,” smiled Pina, a longtime member of Indiana’s Quarter Horse jockey colony with many stakes wins to his credit. “He’s pretty talented, but it took us a while to figure him out. But he has it figured out now.”

Celtic Cartel paid $3.80 for the win as the race favorite. The sophomore son of Corona Cartel is owned by Big B Racing, which includes Brock Hutchinson, Buddy Presley and Brad Marshall. Presley was trackside to experience the win with the stable’s new acquisition.

“We just bought this horse out of Kentucky earlier this year,” said Presley. “He has showed off for us. He has now won two in a row.”

Bred in Texas by Bobby Cox, Celtic Cartel is now two for three in 2025 with 11 career starts. He is well traveled, beginning his career at Los Alamitos before trying his luck at Lone Star last year at two. He has not finished worse than second since joining the Eggleston barn.

Five remaining dates for the 2025 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis will feature all Quarter Horse action. The following Saturdays, with a first post of 10:45 a.m. are June 28, July 19, Aug. 9, Aug. 30, and Oct. 4.

Winners in the final Quarter Horse stakes of the season will be determined during the sixth annual Indiana Champions Day on Oct. 25 with four stakes on the program including the Restricted Grade 3 Miss Roxie Little Futurity.

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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