Racing


WRs Valentino Dashing in $140,960 Governor’s Stake at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
WRs Valentino, under jockey Berkley Packer, winning the $180,300 Miss Roxie Little Futurity.

© Linscott Photography
WRs Valentino Dashing in $140,960 Governor’s Stake at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino

SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 27, 2018—WRs Valentino has been strong all season, but everything fell into place for the final of the 22nd running of the $140,960 Governor's Stake at Indiana Grand Saturday.

The race is one of the original stakes that began during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing in the state of Indiana in 1997 held at Hoosier Park.

Starting from post four, WRs Valentino was joined once again by veteran jockey Berkley Packer, who guided the gelding to a second place finish in the trials to be ranked seventh on the list of qualifiers for the Governors Stakes final.

The winning connections of Wrs Valentino accept the Governor's Stake trophy Saturday at Indiana Grand Race Course. © Linscott Photography
The big strapping son of Mighty B Valiant got out of the gate well and got his feet under him a little earlier than in past races, but he was still mid pack in the early stages of the race. Once Packer got the chance to point the freshman down the track, he took off, making up ground with every stride to run down his opponents.

At the same time, WRs Valentino was able to fend off race favorite Jess My Joy and Sergio Ramirez from the outside to snag the victory by a neck in the five-horse photo. Jess My Joy caught Thinkin Man and Jose Beltran right at the wire to finish second. The time of the 350-yard dash was :17.694 seconds.

"He (WRs Valentino) finishes well all the time, but he just doesn't break well," said Packer. "But he broke well tonight and that really helped. He's a pretty nice horse."

WRs Valentino paid $16.80, $6.00 and $4.20 across the board. The win in the Governor's Stake was his second stakes win of his career and he is now three for five and doubled his career earnings to more than $150,000 for Gwen and Randy Williams' Williams Racing Stable. Randy Smith, current leading Quarter Horse trainer at Indiana and all-time leader in wins, conditions WRs Valentino.

Martha Claussen interview winning jockey Berkley Packer and trainer Randy Smith. © Linscott Photography
"Sometimes it is tough to get two-year-olds to the races," said Smith during an interview with Martha Claussen, nationally known on-air Quarter Horse racing analyst. "But good two-year-olds come from good owners. They do the work with their breeding operation and then they raise them right."

Smith and the Williams have had several stakes winners at Indiana Grand over the past three seasons, and WRs Valentino is the latest to step up and display talent.

"We are pretty excited about him," said Randy Williams. "After his trials, I said he was a good horse but I think he's a whole lot better than that now. If they don't spot him too much, he can catch them. In the trials, he just couldn't catch that little filly (Hospitaliti) but he was able to get there tonight. It takes a whole team effort to get this done."

Williams Racing Stable, based in LaCenter, Ky., has been in the Quarter Horse racing business since 1998. They got their big break with WRS Special Shoe, winner of nearly $1 million including the MBNA Challenge in 2008 and Hava Zevi, a top brood mare in the nation a decade ago. She has been a foundation mare for a lot of foals from Williams Racing Stable, including WRs Valentino. Hava Zevi is the granddam of the Williams latest racing star, WRs Valentino.

A homebred for Williams, WRs Valentino is out of the Teller Cartel mare Wrs Kissandteller.

The royally bred Jess My Joy earned $28,192 for her runner-up effort. Owned-and-trained by Ricardo Martinez, the daughter of Mr Jess Perry is out of First Prize Joy, a half-sister to four Grade 1 winners by Oak Tree Special. Jockey Serigo Ramirez rode the Texas-bred earner of more than $40,000. Weetona Stanley is the breeder.

Erin Thompson saddled third-place finisher Thinkin Man for owner Brian L. Gunder. Jose Beltran was aboard the Carters Cartel colt out of Long Stemmed Roses by First Down Dash. Bred in Oklahoma by Thomas Bradbury and Vaughn Cook, Think Man picked up $14,096 to double his earnings total to $28,366.

Run Happy, Hospitaliti, La Jolla Diamante, Quik Trick, Ivory Runnin, Rvr Undercover Lover and Ajk Zoomin Beauty completed the field.

The 16th season of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horse racing continues through Wednesday, Nov. 7. Racing is conducted Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:05 p.m. with Saturday racing beginning at 6:05 p.m.

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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.