SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022) – WRs Hava Dasher kicked off the first of four trials for the Governor’s Stakes trials Saturday, Oct. 8 with the fastest win, scoring the 350-yard dash in :17.816. The race was her second career trip to the winner’s circle and marked a new record for Jockey Juan Marquez, who now holds the record for most wins in one season for a Quarter Horse jockey at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
WRs Hava Dasher was authoritative from the break. The two-year-old daughter of Apollitical Blood was on top of the field of eight in the first jump and never looked back, striding home to a three-quarter length lead over Maysa and Edgar Diaz. Booray and Martin Munoz finished third just a nose back of Maysa.
WRs Hava Dasher is a homebred from the farm of Gwen and Randy Williams. She has impressive credentials as she is the half sister to their standout older horse WRs Valentino. The bay filly now has two wins in six career outs for Williams Racing Stable and trainer Randy Smith.
The second fastest trial of the day was earned by RK Lady Dana and Francisco Quintero. The duo also led most of their race and fended off Time for a Hero and Cristian Reyes late in the contest for the win in :17.840. My Favorite Train and James Flores finished third.
RK Lady Dana is trained by Tony Cunningham for owner-breeder Kathleen Stumpf. It was the second win in five starts for the Bogart filly, who broke her maiden in her previous start and is on a two-race wining streak heading into the Governor’s Stakes Final.
Other trial winners on the day were The Political Sign and Fernando Morin, who earned the Pink Out Day blanket in his trial. They closed in on What a BD and Jose Ruiz in the final strides to win by one length in :18.056. What A BD was a neck ahead of WI Pandemic and Rolando Pina to finish second.
The Political Sign is owned by Alejandro Medina and is trained by Ricardo Martinez. It was the first career win for the Apollitical Jess filly, who had three previous starts.
Southern Fires rounded out the Governor’s Stakes trial winners for Rolando Pina. The sorrel gelding took over midway through the race and finished strong for the half length win in :18.050. KVN Queen and Juan Marquez and Jupyter and German Rodriguez finished second and third, respectively in the photo.
Southern Fires is trained by Tim Eggleston for owner Duke Racing LLC. It was the Highest Fire’s son’s first career win in his seventh start after joining the Eggleston barn in July. He previously raced at Remington Park before heading to Indiana for his connections.
The field for the $100,000 Governor’s Stakes Final, in order of time with jockey, includes WRs Hava Dasher (Juan Marquez, :17.816); RK Lady Dana (Francisco Quintero, :17.840); Time for a Hero (Cristian Reyes, :17.858); Maysa (Edgar Diaz, :17.943); Booray (Martin Munoz, :17.946); Southern Fires (Rolando Pina, :18.050); The Political Sign (Fernando Morin, :18.056); My Favorite Train (James Flores, :18.071); Louisiana Faster (L.D. Martinez, :18.086); and KVN Queen (Juan Marquez, :18.141). Trainer Randy Smith will saddle three for the Governor’s Stakes Final (WRs Hava Dasher, My Favorite Train, KVN Queen), Tony Cunningham saddles two (RK Lady Dana, Louisiana Faster), and Tim Eggleston saddles two (Maysa, Southern Fires).
The Governor’s Stakes, now in its 26th running, is one of the original stakes races that began during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel racing in the state of Indiana. The race was part of a three-stakes night in 1997 to introduce local racing fans to the sprinters at Hoosier Park. When the state went to all Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at one track in 2013, the stakes race was moved to Horseshoe Indianapolis and is now part of the rich Indiana Champions Day Saturday, Oct. 29 featuring more than $1 million in purses on the day.
Photos by Coady Photography
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