SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Wednesday, May 14, 2025) – Miss Candela and Jockey Abel Cedillo turned in an impressive victory to earn the title in the $100,000 Swifty Sired Fillies Wednesday, May 14, kicking off a string of four premier races for Caesars Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The Indiana sired filly won the race by more than seven lengths in the 12^th running of the event.
 
Starting from post seven, Miss Candela had early speed, which catapulted her to the top early with City Prayers and Evin Roman holding their own from the inside. Highspeed Justice and Andres Ulloa also joined the top two out of the gate and sat third on the outside. Miss Candela continued to lead the way into the only turn of the five and one-half furlong race. Coming out of the turn, she had gained several lengths on the field and began to distance herself from her opponents.
 
In the stretch, Miss Candela was strong through the wire for the seven and one-quarter length win. Highspeed Justice, who was purchased by Tom Congalosi as part of the winner’s package of the Road to Louisville contest in 2023, finished second over City Prayers. Time of the sprint over the track listed as sloppy was 1:03.95.
 
Miss Candela paid $11.40 for the win. The three-year-old daughter of Shagaf is a homebred from the breeding and racing operation of Tony and Katie Duran’s Rancho Monarca, located north of Shelbyville, Ind. It was her second career win in her fifth career start for the Durans. Tony trains the filly, who boosted her career earnings to more than $87,000.
 
“When she (Miss Candela) ran before, she ran inside and got all the pressure on her,” noted Tony Duran. “Today, she had a great trip. Abel (Cedillo) did a great job with her. He told us he didn’t have to do anything, she did it all herself. I did make a few small changes and took everything off. She didn’t like all that I didn’t think. I expected her to run well, but I didn’t think she could beat some of the horses in this race because there are some nice fillies in there, but she really ran well today.”
 
Miss Candela’s dam, Miss Loretta Lynn, won three races during her career out East. The Duran’s purchased the mare out of the Ocala Breeders Mixed Winter Sale in 2021 to add to their fleet of broodmares. She has produced two winners so far for the Duran Stable with Miss Candela joining Miss Monarca as a winner on the track.
 
“We have a baby on the ground by Good Samaritan and we bred her (Miss Loretta Lynn) back to Mo Town this year and she’s in foal,” said Katie Duran. “She really ran a great race today. We are very proud of her.”
 
Miss Loretta Lynn is one of six broodmares on the Duran farm. They currently have six weanlings with 27 in training at Horseshoe Indianapolis. They also have several yearlings waiting in the wings for next year.
 
For second place finisher Highspeed Justice, it was her second career start and her first among premier racing competition. Following her maiden breaking win in her seasonal debut April 22, Trainer Tim Eggleston wanted to try her in a step up in competition. The move proved to be profitable for Congalosi, who is a first time horse owner after purchasing the filly out of the ITOBA Fall Sale as a yearling for $6,700. She now has in excess of $40,000 on her card in two starts.
 
“This is easy, we have a first and a second now,” laughed Congalosi. “But seriously, Tim (Eggleston) has done such a good job with her. I went back to the barn before the race, and she had her game face on. She is so docile and cute in the barn, but when it’s time to race, she changes. She didn’t want to let that horse (City Prayers) get by her today. She is definitely competitive. I couldn’t be more pleased and am so excited to watch her this year.”
 
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.