SHELBYVILLE, IN—JULY 30, 2016—It was anyone’s race halfway through the eighth running of the $98,280 Heartland Futurity, but Jess A Dollar and Jose Davila proved to be the toughest in the end, winning the event by just a neck over Vampire Rose and Smitty Oxendine.

Starting from post six in the 10-horse field, Jess A Dollar was in the thick of things from the very start. The chestnut son of One Sweet Jess went to battle with nearly the entire field of the 300-yard dash from the first few jumps out of the gate.

A blanket could have been spread on eight horses through the first half of the race before Jess A Dollar emerged with a slight lead. Vampire Rose and Wrs Against the Wind and Berkley Packer were not giving in easily and stayed right with Jess a Dollar all the way to the wire. Vampire Rose was just a head in front of Wrs Against the Wind at the finish line for second.

"We’ve been working as a team," said trainer Victor Gonzalez. "We got the job done, it was not easy, but we worked hard. I’d like to thank everyone who helped get him (Jess a Dollar) ready for this race tonight."

Jess A Dollar paid $17.00, $6.80 and $4.80 across the board as the upset winner of the race. He finished second in his trial and his win in the final was his first ever trip to the winner’s circle for owner and breeder Porfirio Carrasco, a multiple stakes winning owner.

With only $1,300 on his card coming into the race, Jess a Dollar added many dollars to his credentials and now has in excess of $58,000 in career earnings with just three lifetime starts. The gelding is out of the Strawfly Special mare Lass To Know.

The time of the 300-yard dash was :15.668 seconds. The stakes record stays with last year’s winner, Woop Dee Doo and Cristian Esqueda in a time of :15.348 seconds.

Vampire Rose, a daughter of Dashin Mvp, races for owner Daniel Cooter. John McCreary saddled the filly out of Girlsachive Too by Achievement. Bred in Louisiana by Russell Williams, Vampire Rose earned $19,656 for the effort.

William Racing Stables, Inc. bred Wrs Against The Wind in Iowa. Owned-and-trained by Randy Smith, the Red Storm Cat gelding is out of Wrs Quick Sister, by Royal Quick Dash. He picked up $9,828.

Wrs Whoseyourdaddy, Vf Wheely Famous, Switching Stones, Kiss Me Free, Gran Cup, Rk Lady Corona and Jess An Oak Tree Lbh completed the field.

Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is conducted Tuesday through Friday at 2:05 PM EST with Saturday racing beginning at 6:05 PM. The 120-day season runs through Saturday, Oct. 29.

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About Indiana Grand Racing & Casino: Indiana Grand Racing & Casino holds multiple awards from industry publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. 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 an off-track betting facility located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.