(Imagine the Moon wins the Hoosier Heartland Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Wednesday / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Horseshoe Indianapolis Media Team / Tammy Knox:

Imagine the Moon sails in the $100,000 Hoosier Heartland at Horseshoe Indianapolis

 SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, September 10, 2025) – Imagine the Moon and Jockey Rodney Prescott took the guess work out of who was the strongest Wednesday, September 10 in the 25th running of the Hoosier Heartland. The duo turned in a commanding win to earn the title for Katie and Tony Duran of Shelbyville.

A start from post three set Imagine the Moon up for a good trip during the one and one-sixteenth mile event over the dirt course. Crosley and Sammy Bermudez were the early speed to their inside and Itzforever was to their outside pressing the tempo.

Heading to the half, Imagine the Moon took over and sat patiently on the outside of Crosley into the final turn. Coming out of the stretch, the two horses were side by side for a few strides until Prescott urged Imagine the Moon forward. Once she had that signal, she took off, pulling away from her opponents by three lengths at the finish line under wraps by Prescott. Crosley held on gamely for second as Itzforever and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. made a late push to move into third. The time of the route race was 1:45.47.

Imagine the Moon was the favored selection of the race, paying $8.20 for the win. The five-year-old mare is a homebred for the Durans, who own and operate a farm north of Shelbyville. It was her ninth career win for the Duran’s Rancho Monarca as she increased her career bankroll to more than $400,000.

“She (Imagine the Moon) didn’t run long (around two turns) until the end of her three-year-old year,” explained Tony. “She showed some promise so we knew she could run long, and she showed that today. She trains very quiet, but as soon as she got some competition around her, she took off. She ran very well for us today.”

It was the second premier racing win this season and the third overall for Imagine the Moon. Her dam, Themoonandthestars, was a good race horse for the Durans before being added to their brood mare band. She has been equally as impressive in her second career with multiple winners. Imagine the Moon is her best to date for the stable.

“We want to thank Rodney (Prescott),” added Katie, who is an attorney by trade. “He did a wonderful job riding her.”

Prescott, a native of Indiana, is among the state’s all-time leading jockeys in wins and in earnings. He has numerous leading jockey titles to his credit, both at Horseshoe Indianapolis as well as Hoosier Park before all Thoroughbred racing was moved to Shelbyville. Overall, he has more than 4,100 career wins and accumulated purse earnings of more than $63 million. The multiple Graded Stakes placed jockey also rode Imagine the Moon’s mother (Themoonandthestars) for the Durans, showing their long partnership in the state of Indiana.

The 23rd 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.

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