SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 24, 2020—He's been the talk of the track all year and WRs Apolliticalivory lived up to all the hype, winning the 24th running of the $121,880 QHRAI Derby during the final All-Quarter Horse racing program of 2020 at Indiana Grand.

The race was one of four stakes on the card and is one of three inaugural pari-mutuel stakes from the first season of racing at Hoosier Park in 1997. Starting with a purse of $10,000, the 2020 purse marked a new all-time high for the event.

Starting from outside portion of starting gate in post eight of the 9-horse lineup, WRs Apolliticalivory was not the first horse to capture the attention of racing fans in the 400-yard dash.

The Apollitical Blood three-year-old, ridden by Sammy Mendez, broke well but was even with most of the field. Flyweight Carver and Juan Marquez emerged with a slight advantage early on that turned out to be a bigger advantage as the wire neared.

WRs Apolliticalivory seemed to be unable to gain any ground, but a few taps of the whip by Mendez got the big impressive gelding in gear, striding up for the win by a head in the final jump in a time of :19.985 seconds. Flyweight Carver was a clear-cut second place finisher over Merciless Fire and Juan Cruz, who finished third. Owned and bred by Gwen and Randy Williams' Williams Racing Stable of LaCenter, Ky., WRs Apolliticalivory completes his three-year-old campaign at Indiana Grand with a perfect record of five for five. It was his second stakes win of the year and more than $155,000 of his career bankroll of more than $200,000 has been recorded this season. Randy Smith trains WRs Apolliticalivory.

"When you have a racehorse, you have a racehorse," said Smith in a post-race interview with Martha Claussen, nationally known Quarter Horse racing analyst. "He comes ready to do his job every time. He trains well, but on race days, he's always ready to get out there and hit the gates."

Although the Williams no longer have his mother, they have been excited about WRs Apolliticalivory from the start.

"I've always liked this horse," said Randy Williams. "After he won both his first starts last year, I really liked him. His older sister had a really bad crooked foot and we gave her away, but then along came Ivory. It's very chilly out here today, but I'm not cold anymore."

Runner-up Flyweight Carver races for owner-breeders Stick and Move Stables LLC. Randy Thompson trains the Wave Carver daughter out of Flaming Chivas by Dash To Chivato. She picked up $24,76, under jockey Juan Marquez, to double her earnings total to $51,251.

Louis Ramirez' Hes Relentless' gelding, Merciless Fire, earned $12,188 for third. Raul De La Mora saddled with Juan Cruz getting the riding call on the Texas-bred out of Walk Thru My Soul by Walk Thru Fire. King Camden Running Horses Inc. is the breeder.

Coronados Lil Lady, Relentless Chick, Mts Sixty Six Cartel, Justafamilytradition, My Pillow and Passenger Train completed the field. A Ruby Corona was scratched.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Wednesday, Nov. 18. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, www.IndianaGrand.com.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR), holds multiple awards for customer service, entertainment, gaming, dining, and diversity. Located in Shelbyville, Ind., Indiana Grand features more than 2,100 of the latest slots and table games in addition to a one-mile dirt racecourse and a seven-eighths mile turf course providing live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing each year. Simulcast and sports wagering is also offered year-round at Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located on the casino floor as well as a Winner's Circle Race Sports Pub located in Clarksville, Ind. For more information, please visit www.IndianaGrand.com.

Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing at racetracks and 21 or older to gamble at sports books and casinos. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) ©2020 Caesars License Company, LLC.