Louisiana Lover scores fifth win of year in Bertram Memorial Stakes

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2020) – Louisiana Lover has been nearly unstoppable all season long. The three-year-old The Louisiana Cartel gelding won his first four starts of the season and now sweeps the 12th running of the $118,900 Sterlie Bertram Memorial Stakes Saturday, Oct. 3 at Indiana Grand.

Louisiana Lover was the quickest from the trials, so he was the overwhelming choice to win the Bertram Final. Ridden by Sammy Mendez, Louisiana Lover began his journey from post seven in the 10-horse lineup and broke well and was a major contender from the start of the 400-yard sprint. Beach Benny and L.D. Martinez had an early advantage along the inside and did his best to fend off Louisiana Lover, but in the end, the three-year-old rolled on by, scoring the victory by three-quarters of a length. Beach Benny was a neck ahead of Jess Z Bob and Juan Marquez for second. Time for the Bertram Final was :20.150.

Owned by Chris Duke’s Duke Racing Stable of nearby Whiteland, Ind., Louisiana Lover is now five for six in 2020 and eight for 13 in his career. He increased his career bankroll to more than $235,000 with the win. Amy Youngblood is the breeder on the impressive sophomore who is trained by Randy Smith.

“He is a dream come true,” said Duke, who is heavily involved in several disciplines of performance Quarter Horses in the state of Indiana. “It’s hard to find a horse like this. I want to thank the whole team for what they have done this year. It’s been phenomenal. He’s matured a lot. He’s a big ‘ole horse and 400 (yards) doesn’t hurt him. Sammy Mendez has given him perfect rides all year.”

Although Louisiana Lover is paid into the next stakes at Indiana Grand, the team behind him will wait to see how he comes out of the race before deciding his next move. He is a horse that is an easy keeper for Smith and one that is a pleasure to have in the shedrow.

“The main thing with this horse is that he gets a good break,” said Smith. “If he’s not on top or near it at the break he’ll have trouble getting time to stretch out and get there. But he got the job done today and I was impressed with how he raced. I’m really proud of him today.”

Louisiana Lover capped off a superb day for Smith, who handles more than 60 head between stalls at Indiana Grand and his nearby training center. With the volume of horses, it keeps Indiana’s all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer and his wife, Debbie, hopping most days.

Smith is currently leading the standings once again in 2020, a feat he has done for the past six years. He is on the verge of breaking his own training records in a year that has been shortened by COVID-19 shutdowns. Smith is currently resting at $998,701 in purse earnings this season, which isn’t far off the record of $1,104,209 set in 2015 for Quarter Horse trainers. Smith also has 42 wins this year, which is just four off the record for most wins in one season by a trainer set in 2015 by Smith at 46. With his seven-win day Saturday, Oct. 3, Smith equaled his own record for most wins by a trainer of any breed on one program. To say it was a good day at the office would be an understatement for the soft-spoken Smith.

“You always hope you will have a good day, but you never expect it,” said Smith. “But I’ll take it.”

Photos by Coady Photography