SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (July 26, 2019) – Anyone who follows horses from the Jay Holden Stable knows there is a well-thought-out process of how that horse originated. Jay and his father, Arven, spend countless hours each year studying pedigrees and matching up brood mares with the stallions on their farm. They are particularly fond of turf horses, so it was no surprise they earned a win with The Story Begins in the $34,000 Maiden Special Weight over the turf Saturday, July 20.
At odds of 35-1, The Story Begins was actually called over the loudspeaker during the post parade. The son of Holden’s stallion, Colonial Colony, got loose and loped to the backstretch before being caught by Outrider John Neal. The three-year-old was brought back and reunited with jockey Leandro Goncalves and prepared for the one and one-sixteenth mile race over the turf.
A slow start placed The Story Begins in the back portions of the bulky field of 12. Goncalves began to inch up on the leaders around the turn and when the duo hit the stretch, they dug in deep. The Story Begins began to pick opponents off one at a time until he only had Colonial Composer and Joe Ramos to defeat, getting the win by a head bob in 1:44.39. Colonial Composer was an easy second over BR Cooper and Abel Lezcano for third.
Interestingly enough, five of the horses in the field were bred at the Holden farm, including second place finisher Colonial Composer. Holden-bred horses finished one-two in the event, which awarded their backers a nice payout. The Story Begins paid $72.20 to win while Colonial Composer paid $32.20 to place. Lumped together, the Holden-bred geldings paid $1,710 for a $2 Exacta.
“I didn’t know how he (The Story Begins) would run after he got loose before the race, but he broke well and when I started asking him for speed, he began to pick it up,” said Goncalves. “I knew in the turn we had a good shot to win it all.”
Owned by Arven and Jay, The Story Begins is a good representation of the breeding they have spent so many years developing at their Greenfield, Ind. farm. They also raised and bred The Story Begins’ grand dam, Marie Jilly, posting a picture of a win by her in 1996 at Arapahoe Park in Colorado a few days after their most recent win. The entire Holden family was also trackside for that victory.
In addition to Colonial Colony, the Holden Farm also stands Eckelson, Quite a Handful and the Quarter Horse Stallion PYC Fast Prize.
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Wednesday, Nov. 6. Racing is conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:15 p.m. and Saturday at 6:15 p.m. More information about the season is available at www.indianagrand.com.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and diversity. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features 2,200 of the latest slots and electronic table games in addition to a one-mile dirt race course and a seven-eighths mile turf course offering live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast wagering is also offered year-round at Winner’s Circle Brewpub & OTB located on the casino floor as well as a Winner’s Circle OTB located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2019 Caesars License Company, LLC.
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Photo by Coady Photography (The Story Begins on the outside of the finish shot with jockey Leandro Goncalves)
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