Starting from the outside post nine in the one and one-sixteenth mile event, De La Cruz moved Quick and Easy (photo) right out of the gate alongside Hungarian Princess and Sammy Bermudez, who would be the eventual leaders. Quick and Easy tracked along in second during the middle fractions before getting into gear for the stretch. Several horses began to fan out to challenge on the outside, and in place to attack in the final furlong.
In the stretch, Quick and Easy took over and easily lengthened her stride to move out for a ride under De La Cruz that was smooth to the wire. Diamond Solitaire and Joe Ramos finished three and three-quarter lengths back in second over Compressed Energy and Rene Diaz, who moved up in the race for third.
“First of all, I always thank God for races like this and special thanks to the owners and the trainer,” said De La Cruz. “I was able to put her in perfect position early on, and that is what she likes. When I asked her, she responded. She gave me everything she had to win.”
Quick and Easy paid $16.40 for the win. It was the first premier racing win for the five-year-old mare, who is a homebred from the Wrights, who have a small breeding operation in Central Indiana. They have been owners with trainer Joe Davis for decades, enjoying success with horses such as Bar Rag and Red Sails Flying.
Quick and Easy becomes their first premier racing winner and a second-generation racehorse for them as they raced her mother, Wife in the Wind, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Quick and Easy now has five career wins and more than $232,000 in earnings for the Wright Stable.
The win in the Hoosier Heartland with Quick and Easy capped off a big week for De La Cruz. The multiple Graded Stakes winning jockey from Peru guided Get Smokin to victory in the Grade 2 FanDuel Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs Saturday, awarding them a straight trip to the Breeders Cup.
De La Cruz, a two-time leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis, is currently in second place on the roster of leading riders in 2023. He has more than 2,400 career wins and is the track’s all-time leading jockey for purse earnings with more than $30 million collected over his career in Indiana.
Empire at Horseshoe Indianapolis
It was a game plan unfolded perfectly for Mr Chaos and Orlando Mojica. They went to the lead and never looked back, scoring the win in the 23rd running of the $100,000 Empire at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Starting from post seven, Mr Chaos (photo) was hustled out of the gate by Mojica, a three-time leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The pair had the top spot secured by the first turn of the one and one-sixteenth mile event. From there, Mr Chaos was content to travel at his own pace with Bluegrass Prayer and Rene Diaz sitting in second on the outside of Grand in Bay and Fernando De La Cruz on the inside. Mr Chaos was on cruise control heading into the final turn with Mansfield Tiger and Edgar Morales making a big move toward them around the turn.
Mansfield Tiger was still hanging tough in mid-stretch, but Mr Chaos was strong, pulling away by a few lengths to score the win by two and one-half lengths. Mansfield Tiger was a solid second over Bluegrass Prayer, who moved up the inside late to finish third.
Mr Chaos paid $4.00 for the win in the Empire. The four-year-old son of Turbo Compressor is owned by Judy Dorris and Ken Sentel. Robert Dobbs Jr. trains the gelding, who is now on a two-race win streak.
“I thank God for this and for this opportunity and also thanks to the owners and the trainer for letting me ride this horse,” said Mojica, a native of Puerto Rico. “He’s the kind of horse you can ride anyway you want. Today, he went to the lead and the fractions were way too slow, but he finished well and did it so easy. My dad (Rafael Mojica Sr.) just passed away, so this win is for him.”
Mr Chaos earned his seventh career win and his third premier racing win of his career. Overall, he now has nearly a half million on his card for his connections. He is now two for four in 2023.
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