SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Tuesday, April 15, 2025) — Win Me Over and Fernando De La Cruz fought their way to the finish and the title in the first running of the $55,000 Brian Elmore Handicap Tuesday, April 15 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The race was named in honor of Elmore, who was trackside to make the presentation to the connections of Win Me Over.
 
Starting from post eight, Win Me Over was one of four horses showing early speed out of the starting gate in the five and one-half furlong sprint. De La Cruz let Win Me Over settle between horses just off the leader Goodlookinjustice and Sammy Bermudez along the inside along with Classic Max and Santo Sanjur. Win Me Over continued to hold his ground in the three-path headed into the only turn of the race with race favorite Latigo and Joe Ramos to his outside.
 
In the stretch, horses were stretched across the track for the journey home. Goodlookinjustice was still holding onto the lead with Run Away Rojo sliding up the rail. Six horses were across the track hoping to reach the finish line first. In the end, Win Me Over was able to get by the inside horses and hold off Latigo for the win by a nose at the wire. Mr Chaos and Orlando Mojica moved up late to finish third.
 
Win Me Over was overlooked by the betting public, paying $37.00 for the win. The five-year-old Indiana bred son of Tamarkuz is owned by Marion Gorham and trained by Robert Gorham. It was his fifth won of his career in his seasonal debut in the Elmore Handicap.
 
“He (Win Me Over) got out of the gate good and put me in good positioning early, so I just kept going,” said De La Cruz, who is Indiana’s all-time leading jockey in wins and purses earned. “He was coming in off a layoff which is tough, but he fought all the way to the wire. I’ve worked him a couple times in the mornings, and he’s been working really well. This was a very competitive field so this was a great win for him.”
 
De La Cruz came into the 2025 meet, his 18^th in Indiana, with 1,330 wins and more than $34 million in purse earnings. The Peruvian born jockey has two leading jockey titles to his credit at Horseshoe Indianapolis along with other titles from Hoosier Park and Tampa Bay Downs. De La Cruz rode at Turfway Park this past winter where he was among the top 10 in anticipation of the start of the meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis. 
 
Win Me Over has turned in all 22 lifetime starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis. It was the third time De La Cruz was aboard, and his first win. The gelding, who was born and raised at St. Simon Place, is now a two-time premier racing winner, adding the Elmore Handicap with the $100,000 Nobody Listens Handicap last summer.
 
“This was a great race and there were six across at the top of the lane,” said Elmore, who has been associated with Indiana horse racing in all three breeds since the beginning. “Everybody had a shot. It was a great finish and a great race to watch.”
 
A native of Sullivan, Ind., Elmore has been a track executive since the 1980s. He formerly served in several capacities for both racetracks in Indiana before stepping into the executive director role for the Indiana HBPA. He retired early in 2024 and has been presented with many awards for his dedication to all three breeds. He is also a recent inductee into the Indiana Horse Racing Association Hall of Fame.
 
“I’m very honored to be in the (Indiana) Hall of Fame,” noted Elmore. “It is a also a great honor to have a race named for me. I really appreciate Caesars (Entertainment) and all the people I’ve worked with over the years.”
 
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.