Duran has figured out Imagine the Moon as she looks to repeat in Shelby County
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Imagine the Moon, who will start as the probable favorite in the $100,000 Shelby County Handicap on Wednesday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, is a high-maintenance mare who demands lots of carats.
Make that carrots.
They’re trainer Tony Duran’s secret weapon when it comes to making Imagine the Moon happy. And it’s working. Big time.
Imagine the Moon won last year’s Shelby County as part of a multiple stakes-winning campaign that earned her the Indiana Thoroughbred Owner’s and Breeder’s Association’s “champion sired aged mare” title of 2025.
The daughter of Ready’s Image, who is now 6, was bred by Duran and also is owned by the longtime horseman who operates under the nom de course Rancho Monarca. Imagine the Moon is a nine-time winner who has earned $422,151.
“I love my filly,” Duran said. “She’s a real pill, but she’s a good filly. It’s going to be her way or the highway. That’s it.
“She doesn’t like you to be messing with her. I give her carrots. As long as you have carrots, she’s okay. You don’t have carrots – she makes a face at you and wants to get you out of the stall. It’s her personality. It’s her.”
Imagine the Moon is part of a field of nine for the Shelby County, which is for Indiana-sired fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. It shares a card with the $100,000 William Henry Harrison Handicap that drew defending winner and 2025 champion sired aged male C. J’s Storm.
Imagine the Moon will break from the rail one start after finishing third in the $55,000 Corningstone on May 13 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, her first start since October.
“Last time, she needed the race,” Duran said. “And the horse that won, that filly, she ran two or three times already.”
Since the race, Imagine the Moon has worked a bullet half-mile in 46 seconds on May 26.
“She’s training real well,” Duran said. “You know what? She’s so smart to train. She’s so smart. When I send her to breeze, she only does what she needs to do and after the wire, she doesn’t gallop-out. She just slows down and pulls up. She’s always like that. She never gallops out.”
Imagine the Moon will break from the rail under Rodney Prescott.
“She’s got a lot of speed and she likes the competition,” Duran said. “She will fight. She likes to fight.”
For more than just carrots.
William Henry Harrison
C. J’s Storm’s chief rivals in the Harrison include Commander Storm and Slam Dunk Justice.
Commander Storm exits a runner-up finish in a second-level allowance at six furlongs at Horseshoe Indianapolis that went in 1:09.80 on a track rated good. Commander Storm will be making his third start since November when he breaks from post 7. Joseph Bealmear has the mount for trainer John Haran.
Slam Dunk Justice was second in the Smooth Operator Handicap on May 13 here. The six-furlong race went in 1:10.80. He will break from the widest post, gate 9, under Martin Pedroza Jr. for trainer Genaro Garcia.
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