Breezy Justice and Joe Ramos had the momentum, they just needed racing room. That’s what they found late in the race for the title in the 25th running of the $100,000 Indiana Futurity Thursday, Nov. 14. Jockey Joe Ramos guided the 2-year-old gelding to the win through rainy conditions and a sloppy track surface at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Breezy Justice began from post 11 and didn’t even attempt to join the quick pace up front as Large Pour and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. grabbed the top spot joined by Goldwyn and Oscar Villarreal on the outside to put pressure on the pace. Swift fractions flashed up on the board in the initial stages of the one mile, 70 yard race as Breezy Justice sat in ninth with only one horse to his heels heading into the final turn.

In the stretch, the front horses were beginning to get leg weary, and the landscape of challengers came at them from all sides. Breezy Justice caught up with the pack and at first was going to try a move to the outside, but Ramos identified a seam along the inside and ducked back down. He split rivals and then was able to move back to the inside in front of another opponent and sprinted through in the final strides winning by one length over Sir Bahjy and Manny Esquivel on the outside. Jazzole and Keith Asmussen finished third between horses in the three-horse photo for the win.

“I talked to Tomas (Medina) in the paddock, and we knew we had to play the break,” explained Ramos, who was leading jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis the last two seasons. “We knew there was a lot of speed in here and knew they would be going out fast, so we just went back, and we were patient enough. By the quarter pole, I know I had the horse to win. I just needed to find the room.”

Breezy Justice was the second longest shot on the board, paying $139.60 to win. The Lantana Mob freshman is owned by Justice Farm, where he was bred and raised. Tomas Medina completed a training double on the day with his win in the Indiana Futurity.

“I just feel very blessed,” said a stunned Medina, who is only in his fourth year as a trainer. “I just thank God for this opportunity and thank everyone in the barn for their hard work.”

It was the first stakes win for Medina, who won the second race of the day with Night Kiss to complete his double, only the second one of his career. The young trainer just went over the $1 million mark earlier this week in purse earnings for his career. The win also boosted him into the top 10 for the season in the trainer standings.

For Ramos, it was his 29th win of the meet in just a little more than three months of action. Ramos, who endured critical injuries earlier this year in a motorcycle accident in his home country of Puerto Rico, returned to the saddle in August. Since the beginning of October, Ramos has found his winning stride again, recording 26 of his 29 wins this year. In his post-race interview with Rachel McLaughlin, on-air racing analyst, he discussed being back in action.

“I have to thank God for being able to be back and to be here and do what I love,” Ramos said. “It’s been a tough year. I’m just happy to be back.”