From the Horseshoe Indianapolis Media Team / Tammy Knox:

Imagine the Moon repeats in Shelby County Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis

 

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, June 3, 2026) – It is special when a horse wins a premier event, but to return and repeat against some of the best older mares in the state is extra special. Imagine the Moon accomplished that Wednesday, June 3 in the 24th running of the $100,000 Shelby County Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Imagine the Moon began from post one with veteran rider Rodney Prescott aboard. The duo held their ground early on by speed horses from the outside, sitting in fourth as The Kid Pataky and Sammy Bermudez led the way through the six-furlong sprint. As horses moved into the only turn of the race, Imagine the Moon kept alert as she was covered up by Werk It Wendy and Evin Roman and Sakra’s Quest and Fernando De La Cruz to the outside.

At the head of the lane, The Kid Pataky began to move off the inside rail just enough to allow Imagine the Moon to shoot through and take over the lead. Once clear, the Indiana sired mare moved out to win by two lengths at the wire in 1:09.95, the second fastest time in the 24-year history of the race. The Kid Pataky held off the remainder of the field for second with Werk It Wendy rounding out the top three.

“She (Imagine the Moon) ran a good race her first time out and we (Tony Duran and I) thought she would run well her second start,” noted Prescott, who is a native of Portland, Ind. with more than 4,100 career wins. “The horse we were following (The Kid Pataky) usually gets out a little so I thought we would be able to move up the inside. But today, she didn’t move out as much but there was still enough room to get through. She’s an easy horse to ride in the afternoons. She can be cantankerous in the mornings, but she is all business during a race.”

Imagine the Moon was the favorite of the field, paying $4.00 for the win. The Ready’s Image six-year-old mare is a true Shelby County resident, born and raised on Tony and Katie Duran’s Rancho Monarca farm just north of Shelbyville. It was the 10th career win for Imagine the Moon as she boosted her career earnings tally to nearly $500,000 during her career in only her second start of 2026.

“The first start, she was really not sharp, and I didn’t want to rush her,” said Trainer Tony Duran. “She doesn’t owe us anything so I wanted to choose the right race for her second start, but I thought she would be sharp today. We will kind of pick her spots for the rest of the year. She might retire after this year, and we will make her a brood mare. We will just wait and see how she does this year.”

The Durans know a little about adding brood mares to their small operation. Tony liked the breeding behind Imagine the Moon’s mare, Themoonandthestars, and claimed her to add her to his operation.

“I claimed her from Paula Bacon when she was training up at Hoosier Park and I just wanted her for a brood mare,” added Tony. “She has done pretty well for us as a brood mare and has given us a few winners. We have a baby (two-year-old colt) this year that isn’t a full brother to her (Imagine the Moon), but he has the same blood lines, and we are excited about him. He (Moonie’s Bullet) is like her when she was younger. He’s a little big and clumsy but we think he is going to be a nice horse for us. We aren’t going to push him. We will just let him take his time.”

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.