Relentlessly Special, ridden by Francisco Quintero, goes gate-to-wire for the win in the $157,000 Governors Stakes by a neck.

© Coady Photography

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 28, 2023–It was a day dedicated to the State of Indiana’s top Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses and the stars shined bright in both breeds.

The Quarter Horse stakes portion of the program began with one of the oldest Quarter Horse stakes in the state as the 27th running of the $157,000 Governor’s Stakes was won impressively by Relentlessly Special and Francisco Quintero.

Starting from post three, Relentlessly Special came straight out of the gate and started running. His white blaze led the field from the start for Quintero. As the wire neared, the late closing speed of Lota Eura and Jose Ruiz came into the picture, but their efforts were held off by Relentlessly Special for the win by a neck over Lota Eura. Swackhammer and Antonio Rodriguez finished third.

Relentlessly Special paid $11.60 for the win. The freshman son of Hes Relentless is owned by Lisa Cunningham and trained by her husband Tony Cunningham, the track’s current leading Quarter Horse trainer. It was the third win on the season for the sorrel gelding as he boosted his career earnings to more than $192,000 in earnings.

The winning connections of Relentlessly Special accept the $157,000 Governor’s Stakes trophy at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday. © Coady Photography

''He goes out and does his job every start and every day,'' said Tony. ''He’s showing what king of horse he is. I have to give credit to my wife, Lisa. She’s the one that picked him out at the sale. She did a great job picking him out.''

Relentlessly Special was purchased by the Cunninghams at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last fall for $57,000. Lisa saw the colt in the makeup ring and alerted Tony that it was the horse she wanted. The Oklahoma bred gelding now has two stakes to his credit, coupling the Governor’s Stake with a win in the $148,000 Heartland Futurity earlier this year. He has not been off the board in six career starts.

The win was also one of three on the Indiana Champions Day card for Cunningham. In addition to Relentlessly Special, he won the Miss Roxie Little Futurity Consolation and a Thoroughbred stakes with The Kid Pataky in the $100,000 Indiana Stallion Fillies.

In an interview earlier in the season, Cunningham noted, ''Our team does a really good job with all of our horses. They deserve a lot of credit, and they all work so hard. I am very happy for the entire team.''

Fastest qualifier from the trials Lota Eura inched up on Relentlessly Special but crossed the wire second best under the guidance of Jose Ruiz. The son of Lota PYC was a finalist in the QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity earlier this season and has $57,771 in career earnings.

Bred and owned in Texas by Whiting Ranch, Lota Eura is out of the Apollitical Jess mare Eurapollitical Girl. He is conditioned by Ricardo Martinez.

Third place finisher Swackhammer was piloted by Antonio Rodriguez. The son of Carters Cartel has lit the board in every out from four starts with two wins and two thirds. The Oklahoma bred gelding trained by Jessica Vazquez has $34,150 in the bank.

Breeder Kelly Yother Equine LLC sold Swackhammer in last year's Heritage Place Yearling Sale for $20,000. He is owned by Cuadra Azabache and out of Martinis N Bikinis by Red Storm Cat.

Completing the field order is Vgk Dynasty, Hg Favorite Energy, Brillant Speed, Jess B Gone, Readi Dusty, Ynot A Hero and Immediate.

The Governor’s Stakes was one of three initial races held in Indiana during the inaugural season of pari-mutuel Quarter Horse racing in 1997 at Hoosier Park. The race started for a purse of $10,000 and has grown over the years to boast it’s highest ever purse of $157,000 in 2023. The race was moved to Horseshoe Indianapolis beginning in 2013 when the state went to all Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at the Shelbyville, Indiana racetrack.

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The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing is held Monday through Thursday. First post Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is 2:30 p.m. Thursday and select Friday racing begins at 2:10 p.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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