SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, May 14, 2025) – Mondavila and Joseph Ramos kept their record perfect for their second win of the season, this time in the 12^th running of the $100,000 Sagamore Sired. The duo overcame several challengers during the five and one-half furlong race to earn their second premier racing victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
 
Mondavila was ready to go for Ramos out of the gate and moved up into second on the inside of Dr Alex Is In and Fernando De La Cruz, who left for the lead from the outside. The two horses battled back and forth down the backstretch and into the turn, neither sophomore giving an inch.
 
At the head of the lane, Mondavila pressed on and gained a length advantage as the late closers in the race geared up to make their move led by Slam Dunk Justice and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. A little encouragement from Ramos in mid-stretch was all Mondavila needed to pull away for the win by two and three-quarter lengths as the favorite of the field. Forever Greedy and Hannah Leahy split horses in the stretch to move up for second over Slam Dunk Justice for third on the outside.
 
“Last year, he ran next to a horse like that, and he kept going, so I wasn’t worried about being in a battle early in this race,” noted Ramos, who is a two-time leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis and rode Flying Mohawk this year in the Kentucky Derby. “He has a lot of class. He didn’t surprise me today, but he did surprise me in his first start this year. I didn’t think he would be ready, but he was. Randy (Klopp) had him ready to go. He’s such a good trainer. Today I just let him do his thing. He is a very talented horse.”
 
Mondavila paid $2.60 as the favorite. The son of Mondavi is owned by Liz Klopp and Jill Patrick. The grey gelding is trained by Randy Klopp and is now four for six in his career, adding his win in the Sagamore Sired to a victory last fall in the $100,000 Crown Ambassador.
 
“This horse (Mondavila) doesn’t do anything wrong,” noted Randy Klopp. “A three-year-old kid can handle him. He’s the type of horse that everyone in the barn likes. He has no bad vices.”
 
Mondavila increased his career bankroll to more than $174,000 with his latest win. He remains undefeated in two starts for 2025.
 
The 23^rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.