SHELBYVILLE, IN—OCTOBER 24, 2020—It had already been a big day for trainer Randy Smith and Gwen and Randy Williams of Williams Racing Stable. They entered the final stakes of the day with two stakes wins already to their credit, and had one more shot to make it a three-peat.

WRs Valentino and Juan Marquez gave them that honor by securing the win in the 8th running of the $107,860 Indiana Championships, the first time the stakes race offered a purse of more than $100,000.

Starting from post three in the 10-horse final of the Indiana Championships, WRs Valentino broke on top and led the way early through the 440-yard dash.

Although opponents were close throughout, the Mighty B Valiant gelding kept a good hold on the lead and was determined all the way to the wire. Heavily favored Louisiana Lover (Sammy Mendez), a stablemate of WRs Valentino, was lurking on the outside along with Country Boy 123, with L.D. Martinez aboard.

Both horses are known for their big kicks at the end and they closed in together on WRs Valentino. However, their efforts were denied. WRs Valentino held his ground to the wire in the three-horse finish, winning the race by a nose over Louisiana Lover, who was a nose ahead of Country Boy 123.

“He broke slow but as he was coming closer and closer, he started getting faster and faster,” said Marquez through an interpreter, as ironically, he was holding his daughter, Valentina. “It was kind of tough for him today, but it was his time.”

WRs Valentino stopped the timer in :21.783 seconds to establish a new stakes record in the Indiana Championships. The previous record was set in 2019 by Beach Treat and Oscar Macias in a time of :22.319. The fifth selection on the board, WRs Valentino paid $17.00, $6.60, $4.20 across the board.

It was only the third start of the year for WRs Valentino, who had one win and one second already. The four-year-old was a stakes winner at two, and although he’s been competitive, just couldn’t get out of the bridesmaid mode the past two seasons until the Indiana Championships. He now has six wins in 14 career starts and purses just under the $300,000 mark for Williams Racing Stable.

“I’m so excited for this win,” said Randy Williams. “The other two stakes were wonderful, but the two Randys (himself and Randy Smith) wanted to win this one right here. I’ve thought about selling Valentino before, but this little lady right here (pointing to Debbie Smith) wouldn’t have allowed it. We love Valentino just as much as she does, and he just went out there today and beat a really nice bunch of horses.”

WRs Valentino is quiet in the barn and has moved into the title of barn favorite for the Smith Stable. According to Smith’s wife, Debbie, he has a special place in their barn.

“He is the barn’s favorite,” explained Debbie. “He is always a cuddler and will put his head in your lap and he prefers women around him. But once he gets in the paddock he turns into a racehorse. He almost got away from us today in the paddock.”

Because the Williams focus on younger horses, the four-year-old WRs Valentino might have a new plan for the future, if he was any other horse. However, Gwen and Randy have no intentions of selling him.

“I was offered a lot of money for one of our other horses one time and he was our favorite and we wouldn’t sell, and we feel the same about Valentino,” added Randy Williams. “I don’t think I have ever been more excited about watching one of our horses race than I was about Valentino in that race right there. His future will be up to Randy (Smith). If he wants to race him somewhere else, or just bring him back here, that would be totally fine with Gwen and I. We live five and one-half hours away, and we love Indiana racing. We love the program and we love the purses. I’d just as soon race in my own backyard than to ship everywhere.”

The win by WRs Valentino capped off a very successful day for Smith, Indiana Grand’s five-time leading Quarter Horse trainer and the state’s all-time leading Quarter Horse conditioner.

Smith blew by his previous record of most wins in one season by a trainer (46) and most money earned in one year by a Quarter Horse trainer ($1,104,209). He had six wins in nine races on the day, including a clean sweep of the four stakes races. Smith now moves into the final 16 days of racing in 2020 with 50 wins and purses in excess of $1.4 million.

Runner-up Louisiana Lover earned $21,572 to increase his earnings mark to $256,665. Randy Smith trains the son of champion sire The Louisiana Cartel for owner Brian Gunder. Amy Peoples Youngblood bred the 3-year-old gelding in Indiana from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Special Love. Samuel Mendez was riding.

Country Boy 123 races for owner Ruth Barbour and is conditioned by trainer Anthony Cunningham. The 7-year-old Country Chicks Man picked up $10,786 for second. Daniel Martinez rode the $428,137 earner out of Very Dashin 123 by Dash Thru Traffic. Carolyn Bay is the breeder.

Kissmelikethat, The Artful Dodger, Valiantinecandyrocks, Beach Treat, Yadi 1, Southern Belle Bp and Tres My Heart completed the field. Abe 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.

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