Valiantinecandyrocks rolls to top of Woodard Memorial Classic

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 8, 2020) – Valiantinecandyrocks and Victor Olivo turned in another impressive performance Saturday, Aug. 8 to top the qualifiers for the $75,000 Bob Woodard Memorial Classic Final slated for Thursday, Aug. 20. The four-year-old mare won her trial in :19.973 to lead the way into the final.

Starting from post one, Valiantinecandyrocks wasn’t the quickest out of the gate, but soon became a force in the field of seven stellar Indiana breds. The rapid-gaited daughter of Valiant Hero was working full force along the rail and was keeping tabs on Beach Cartel and Sammy Mendez through most of the 400-yard dash. As the finish line neared, she was able to get an advantage on Beach Cartel just as Kitty Sixup and Jose Ruiz came barreling toward the wire from the outside. However, Valiantinecandyrocks dug in gamely for the win by a nose over Kitty Sixup. Beach Cartel finished third.

“She put a little step back on me in the gate, so she was back when the gate opened,” said Olivo. “Beach Cartel was ahead of me all the way and I didn’t think I could beat him. But she came on toward the end. She can run the distance. Last time at 350, she was still coming on at the end.”

Owned by Lance and Tammy Finlinson of Greenwood, Ind., Valiantinecandyrocks is now five for 11 lifetime and a perfect two for two in 2020. The homebred from the Finlinson’s good brood mare Jesses Candy pushed her earnings over the $50,000 with her latest win. Lily Gonzalez handles the training duties for Valiantinecandyrocks.

“The girls beat the boys,” smiled Finlinson referring to trainer Gonzalez and his mare, Valiantinecandyrocks. “They added a breast collar to her today. She’s a little longer and they didn’t want the saddle to slip back.”

Olivo, who recently returned to the saddle after retiring in 2016, switched off as trainer for the first time in this start and will focus on riding for the remainder of the 2020 racing season. Gonzalez got her first win of the meet with Valiantinecandyrocks.

Indiana’s 2019 Quarter Horse of the Year Beach Treat found his winning stride in the second fastest of three trials for the Woodard Memorial. The five-year-old gelded son of Escondido Beach won his first of the year in his third start with Oscar Macias aboard. Ron Brown owns and trains the tough gelding, who has in excess of $220,000 in career earnings.

Beach Treat was a half-length winner over Rarely a Tres and L.D. Martinez. Yadi 1 and Erik Esqueda finished third.

Beach Treat is third fastest on the finals list for the Woodard Memorial with a win time of :20.031.

The third Woodard trial was also won by a former Indiana champion Beach Mercedes, who scored the win in a time of :20.171. The five-year-old daughter of Escondido Beach, owned by breeder Sheri Miller, was the leader nearly gate to wire for the three-quarter length win over Abe and Erik Esqueda. One Smart Jess and Natasha Fritz finished third. The win gave trainer Smith two wins in the three trials for the Woodard Memorial Classic.

The top 10 qualifiers for the Woodard Memorial Classic Final, with jockey and time, includes: Valiantinecandyrocks (Victor Olivo, :19.973); Kitty Sixup (Jose Ruiz, :19.979); Beach Treat (Oscar Macias, :20.031); Beach Cartel (Sammy Mendez, :20.090); Rarely a Tres (L.D. Martinez, :20.107); Beach Mercedes (Juan Marquez, :20.171); Yadi 1 (Erik Esqueda, :20.264); Abe (Erik Esqueda, :20.283); Beach Bum Eddie (L.D. Martinez, :20.287); and Stinkin Rich (Shanley Jackson, :20.350). Smith (Beach Cartel, Beach Mercedes), Cunningham (Rarely a Tres, Beach Bum Eddie) and Randy Thompson (Yadi 1, Abe) will all saddle two in the final.

Photos by Coady Photography - Valiantinecandyrocks is on the inside of the grey horse Kitty Sixup)