WRs Apolliticalivory stands out in Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (July 4, 2020) – WRs Apolliticalivory is a diamond in the rough for Gwen and Randy Williams of La Center, Ky. The couple didn’t have high hopes for the sophomore son of Apollitical Blood until he got to the track. Now, he’s a six-figure winner with five wins in seven career starts. His latest win was a dominant outing in the $102,120 Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby Saturday, July 4 at Indiana Grand.

WRs Apolliticalivory was impressive in his trial to qualify as the top contender for the final. Therefore, when he stepped onto the track for the final, he was the overwhelming favorite of the field. Guided by veteran rider Shanley Jackson, he was once again unstoppable, leading near gate to wire in the 400-yard dash with a two-length advantage at the wire. MTs Sixty Six Cartel and Erik Esqueda finished second, just a head in front of My Pillow and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, who made up a lot of ground after a slow start. The time of the stakes race was :19.934.

“We gave his older sister away,” said Randy Williams. “The mare had two crooked legged babies, so we ended up selling her. And then here comes ‘Ivory.’ There’s nothing crooked about his legs.”

Williams Racing Stable is off to a quick start this season at Indiana Grand. They have three wins in eight starts with two second place finishes. Established in 1998, they have bred numerous champions that carry their “WR” moniker, including Grade 1 winner WRs Special Shoe, winner of the AQHA Challenge Championship and more than $880,000 in career earnings. WRs Apolliticalivory is now among the stable’s top contenders with six-figure status.

WRs Apolliticalivory’s win in the Indiana Grand QHRAI Derby is his first stakes victory. He just missed the title in the $135,000 Governor’s Stakes last fall by a nose, one of two defeats in his career. To date, he has not finished off the board in seven career starts under the direction of Trainer Randy Smith.

“Shanley told us in the barn earlier today he had won a lot of races for us, but he’d never won a stakes for us,” said Debbie Smith, Randy’s wife. “He told us that was going to change. He was going to do it (win a stakes race) for us this time.”

Jackson has numerous stakes wins to his credit, and his path to Quarter Horse racing has a unique journey. He had several jobs along the way, including a mechanic and school bus driver, and in his mid-40’s, decided to get his jock’s license. Since 2007, he has won over 270 races, many of which are stakes. The Tallahassee, Fla. native now has in excess of $5 million in purse earnings, all while riding on a part-time basis.

“I’ll be coming in and out of the meet later on,” said Jackson. “I’m here now full time but when school starts Aug. 19, I’ll go back and drive the school bus and then come in for the trials and stakes races. I’ve only got a few more years before I retire from driving the bus, so I want to get that in.”

Jackson delivers children to the Leon School District in Tallahassee. He enjoys both of his employment choices right now and is thankful to have a career in both fields.

“I really have to thank the Jackson family, actually the Jackson brothers,” added Jackson. “They are the ones that pushed me to come out here and ride. It’s been a blessing.”

Photos by Coady Photography