From the Horseshoe Indianapolis Media Team / Tammy Knox:

Zolo solo at the wire in $55,000 Onesmoothoperator Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis

 

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) – Zolo and one of Indiana’s all-time leading jockeys Rodney Prescott made a solo appearance at the finish line Wednesday, May 13 in the $55,000 Onesmoothoperator Handicap. The race is named in honor of Indiana’s richest horse with more than $1 million in U.S. dollars on his card while primarily racing in Australia.

Zolo began from post five in the center of the pack and backed off the early pace as Slam Dunk Justice and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. took over from the outside. Race favorite Sleep and Fernando De La Cruz sat just to his outside with Mondavila and Alberto Burgos another lane out heading down the backstretch in the six-furlong sprint.

Horses remained bunched up around the turn and heading into the stretch, it was still anyone’s race. Prescott identified a lane along the inside and shot through with Zolo, moving out to a one and one-half length advantage at the wire well under wraps for the win. Slam Dunk Justice finished second in a photo with Latigo and Irving Moncada.

“I thought he would run well today,” noted Prescott. “I’ve been working him in the mornings, and I’ve been on him a lot, so I thought he would race well. Coming out of the gate, he broke well. The horses around us were all pretty tightly bunched, but it didn’t affect us at all. We just waited and we were just in the right place at the right time. The inside opened up and we got through for the win.”

Zolo was overlooked by the betting public, paying $45.40 for the win. It was the first win in the first start of the year for the veteran performer, who is owned by Katie and Tony Duran’s Rancho Monarca of Shelbyville. Tony trains the seven-year-old chestnut son of Commissioner, who earned his 11th trip to the winner’s circle in the effort. The win also placed him over the $300,000 mark in career earnings. Ten of his wins have been at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“He’s been breezing very good in the morning,” noted Tony. “I put a horse in front of him during a workout and he went right on by. I knew there was a lot of speed in this race today, and he’s so versatile. He can run from anywhere in a race, so I knew he could close. He’s just a good horse.”

Tony notes the veteran gelding is an easy keeper in the barn with one exception. He knows when it’s race day and his attitude changes.

“You have to stay with him on race day,” added Duran. “He gets very nervous and fidgety and won’t stand still. But other than that, he is really nice in the barn.”

Tony noted Zolo only had three starts last year and that was the plan. Tony hoped to give him some down time away from racing.

“He’s been a very consistent horse for us, and I didn’t want to put pressure on him,” said Tony. “But he doesn’t like the farm. When we take him home for some time in the paddock, he just runs and runs, and he won’t stand still in his stall. He wants to be at the track all the time, so we just keep him here.”

The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse extends through Friday, November 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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