SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Tuesday, April 15, 2025) — Hoosier Eye Candy and Eduardo Diaz rallied home as the first Quarter Horse winner of the season Tuesday, April 15 to close out the season opener at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
 
Trained by Tim Eggleston, Hoosier Eye Candy was one of two in the race for the stable, joined by Political Lies and Rolando Pina. However, Hoosier Eye Candy came out of the gate with authority, taking over from post two. He was joined early on by Louisiana in Love and German Rodriguez from post one and the tightly matched bunch continued down the stretch in the 250-yard dash. In the final strides, Hoosier Eye Candy was able to pull away for the half-length win at the wire over Louisiana in Love. La Spirit Moves Me and Giovani Vazquez Gomez, who is now Indiana’s all-time leading Quarter Horse jockey by wins, finished third.
 
Hoosier Eye Candy paid $10.80 for the win. The three-year-old son of Ivan James is owned by Brian Langworthy and was bred and raised by Dr. Jane Owens. It was his sixth start and his first trip to the winner’s circle for Eggleston, who was a top trainer from the 2024 meet with 33 wins, a tie with Tony Cunningham in the Quarter Horse trainer standings.
 
The race also marked a first for Rodriguez, who made his training debut in Indiana. The former top five Quarter Horse jockey is now overseeing a stable of 35. He made his training debut earlier this spring at Sandy Ridge in Kentucky where he won his first training victory with Fe Houdini.
 
The 2025 Quarter Horse season continues through Thursday, Nov. 13. A total of 30 stakes are on the schedule with purses in excess of $2.3 million, a new record for Indiana racing. The state also showcases two Restricted Grade 3 races during the season with the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity set for Saturday, Aug. 30 and the Miss Roxie Little Futurity set for Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 25. Six all-Quarter Horse racing days will also highlight the sprinters in 2025 with Saturday action set for May 31, June 28, July 19, Aug. 9, Aug. 30, and Oct. 4. 
 
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.