WRs Hava Dasher, under jockey Juan Marquez, setting the fastest time from four trials contested for the $100,000 Governor’s Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

© Coady Photography

SHELBYVILLE, IN–OCTOBER 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 leading sire 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, out of Wrs Kissandteller by Teller Cartel, 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, by 2022 Dash For Cash Futurity winning sire Bogart, 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 winning streak heading into the Governor’s Stakes Final.  She is out of the Coronas Prospect mare Rk Rollin Cartel.

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. Out of The Fiscal Sign by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, she was a $40,000 repurchase as the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

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. Southern Fires was bred in Oklahoma by Dunn Ranch from the Shazoom mare Marys Southernpolicy.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Horseshoe Indianapolis on Saturday, October 29th to vie for the winner's share of $100,000 Governor’s Stakes Final.

CLICK HERE for the complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

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.

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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.

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