Jockey Fancisco Quintero scores his first career stakes win aboard RK Lady Dana in the $144,720 Governor’s Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday.

© Coady Photography

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 29, 2022–There have been many firsts for Jockey Francisco Quintero this season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He scored his first career win as a jockey earlier this season and now he’s a stakes winner, guiding RK Lady Dana to victory in the 25th running of the $144,720 Governor’s Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The race is one of three initial stakes during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel horse racing held at Hoosier Park in 1997.

RK Lady Dana made her presence known early in the 350-yard sprint. She was in contention for the lead from the start and fended off a big challenge from WRs Hava Dasher on the outside the entire length of the stretch. In the end, RK Lady Dana won her third straight race for Quintero, finishing a neck ahead of WRs Hava Dasher and Juan Marquez. Time for a Hero and Cristian Reyes held their ground inside for third.

RK Lady Dana paid $10.00 for the win. The two-year-old daughter of Bogart is now three for six in her career. Tony Cunningham, one of the top trainers and owners in the state all-time, conditions the Illinois bred for owner-breeder Kathleen Stumpf.

The winning connections of RK Lady Dana accept the Governors Stakes trophy on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
© Coady Photography

“She’s just starting to figure it out,” said Cunningham. “We had a bunch of sick horses early in the meet and seems like we are just now getting it together. This filly is an honest little filly. This was a nice field in this race, and she ran a really good race today.”

Quintero, who is spending his second year in Indiana and also as a jockey, came to Indiana to work for Cunningham. He has worked hard to perfect his riding and has ridden RK Lady Dana to all three of her consecutive wins.

“We have been working with her and she has been doing good in her works,” said Quintero through a translator. “I had confidence for her to do it again. She started good and finished good. I have good communication with her.”

Favored to win, Wrs Hava Dasher slowly gained to the wire but came up short by a neck. Randy Smith conditioned the daughter of Apollitical Blood for owner/breeder Williams Racing Stables. 

Wrs Hava Dasher has lit the board five out of seven starts, banking $63,242 in career earnings. The Kentucky bred filly is out of Wrs Kissandteller by Teller Cartel.

Third place finisher Time For A Hero kept inching his way up but came up short by 1/2-length. Also by Apollitical Blood, the two-year-old gelding has two wins, one second and two thirds from seven starts with earnings of $37,269. 

Bred by Shelby Hayden and Phillip Kowalski, Time For A Hero is out of Jess Valiant by Valiant Hero. Natasha Perez saddled the Oklahoma bred gelding for owner Spencer Tunnell.

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The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

About Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis, owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, racing, dining, and diversity. Located just minutes from Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind., this one-of-a-kind property has wall to wall excitement on the 105,940 square foot gaming floor, featuring more than 1,600 slots and 72 table games along with a state-of-the-art World Series of Poker Room containing 20 tables. Please visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis for more information and find Horseshoe Indianapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.