After turning in the second fastest time trial, Rock Candy Blue was all business when the gates sprung for the 13th running of the $115840 Horseshoe Indianapolis QHRAI Derby.
The Oklahoma-bred gelding, guided by jockey Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, was an open length winner in the event to secure his first stakes title.
Starting from the inside post one, Rock Candy Blue was patient in the gate while adjustments were made to other starters. Once the field was set, he was out of the gate quickly and on top in the 400-yard dash, grabbing the lead early.
As the wire neared, the sorrel sophomore never let up, coasting under the wire for the two and one-quarter length win.
One Night Too Long and German Rodriguez, the fastest trial winner, finished second a neck ahead of Screenshot and Jose Ruiz and A Little Louie and Francisco Ramirez Jr., who could not be separated at the wire for third in the tight five-horse photo.
“We didn’t do anything different with him between the trials and the final,” said Jessi Vazquez. “We made no changes on him. He’s so hyper in the stall but once he gets in the gate, he knows he’s a racehorse and he is so laid back.”
Purchased out of the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale for $88,000, owners Campos Family Ventures have nearly paid for Rock Candy Blue in two starts, both wins for the new connections. Vazquez trains the Jess Louisiana Blue gelding, who is now three for nine lifetime and possesses earnings of more than $83,000 -- $70,000 of which has been earned since arriving in Indiana.
“From day one, this horse has been great,” said Vazquez, who partners with her husband, Giovani, in the care and training of Rock Candy Blue. “Giovanni loves him and has been on top of him since we bought him. We’ll keep running him in derbies and see what else comes up.”
