SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022) – There have been many firsts for Jockey Francisco Quintero this season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He scored his first career win as a jockey earlier this season and now he’s a stakes winner, guiding RK Lady Dana to victory in the 26th running of the $144,720 Governor’s Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The race is one of three initial stakes during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel horse racing held at Hoosier Park in 1997.
RK Lady Dana made her presence known early in the 350-yard sprint. She was in contention for the lead from the start and fended off a big challenge from WRs Hava Dasher on the outside the entire length of the stretch. In the end, RK Lady Dana won her third straight race for Quintero, finishing a neck ahead of WRs Hava Dasher. Time for a Hero and Cristian Reyes held their ground inside for third.
RK Lady Dana paid $10.00 for the win. The two-year-old daughter of Bogart is now three for six in her career. Tony Cunningham, one of the top trainers and owners in the state all-time, conditions the Illinois bred for owner-breeder Kathleen Stumpf.
“She’s just starting to figure it out,” said Cunningham. “We had a bunch of sick horses early in the meet and seems like we are just now getting it together. This filly is an honest little filly. This was a nice field in this race, and she ran a really good race today.”
Quintero, who is spending his second year in Indiana and also as a jockey, came to Indiana to work for Cunningham. He has worked hard to perfect his riding and has ridden RK Lady Dana to all three of her consecutive wins.
“We have been working with her and she has been doing good in her works,” said Quintero through a translator. “I had confidence for her to do it again. She started good and finished good. I have good communication with her.”
Photos by Coady Photography
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