Page 141 - November 2020

Sterlie Bertram Memorial
LOUISIANA LOVER
by Michael Compton
Louisiana Lover justified his favoritism in the $118,900 Sterlie Bertram Memorial at Indiana Grand on Oct. 3, recording his fifth
win from six starts this season for owner Duke Racing LLC and trainer Randy Smith.
With his regular pilot Samuel Mendez aboard, Louisiana Lover broke smartly in the 400-yard event and wrestled the lead away from Beach Benny a few strides away from the gate. Louisiana Lover
increased his advantage in
the lane and drew off to score
by 3/4-length as the even-
money favorite, stopping the
timer in :20.150 and earning
an 86 speed index.
“He is a dream come true,” Chris Duke of Duke Racing shared with the media following his charge’s win. “It’s hard to find a horse like this. I want to thank the whole team for what they
Governor’s Stakes
have done this year. It’s been phenomenal. He’s matured a lot. Sammy Mendez has given him perfect rides all year.”
With the victory, Louisiana Lover is now
a winner in nine of 13 lifetime starts and the $65,395 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $235,093. Winner of the Blue River Derby at Indiana Grand on July 23 and multiple stakes placed, Louisiana Lover was an
impressive winner of his Sterlie Bertram trial heat on Sept. 17 as the fastest qualifier.
Amy Peoples Youngblood bred Louisiana Lover, the first stakes winner out of lightly raced Jess Special Love, who has produced 100% money earners from seven starters.
Beach Benny (Escondido Beach-Streaking Stitches), rid- den by Luz Martinez, finished a game second after dueling with the winner early. Also, a
winner of his trial, the stakes-winning gelding races for owner/breeder Pamela Brickley Hann and is trained by Anthony Cunningham.
Jess Z Bob (Jess Zoomin-Billie Bob TB) and jockey Juan Marquez finished third for owner Robert A. Ray and trainer Paul Martin. Runner-up to Louisiana Lover in his trial heat, stakes-placed Jess Z Bob was bred in Indiana by Mark and Teresa Myers.
Kissmelikethat (Kiss My Hocks- Lovemelikethat), Blue Eyed Newman (Escondido Beach-Miss Louisiana Blue),
Air Born Desi (Desirio-Air Born Magic), J
J Zoomin (Jess Zoomin-Justa Dance), Jess
A Flyin Beach (Escondido Beach-Jess Alive Bully), Catchey Rhythm (Too Tough To Catch-Dashs Rhythm), and Shakeitonthebeach (Escondido Beach-Botticelli Shake) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
$118,900 • 400 yards :20.150 • si 86
Corona Cartel
The Louisiana Cartel
The Louisiana Girl
LOUISIANA LOVER, ‘17-g.
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Special Love
Effortless Love
WRS MOONIN THEWAGON
by Michael Compton
WRS Moonin Thewagon’s win in the $132,560 Governor’s Stakes at Indiana Grand on Oct. 24 was the culmination of a team effort between all his connections.
Ridden by Samuel Mendez, the only pilot WRS Moonin Thewagon has had in his five lifetime starts, the Kentucky-bred took com- mand shortly after the break in the 350-yard test. He widened his advantage through the lane and scored by 1-length at the finish. Sent off as the odds-on favorite, WRS
Moonin Thewagon stopped the timer in :17.799, earning a 93 speed index in registering his first stakes victory.
The flashy gray gelding,
a homebred for Williams Racing Stables trained by Randy Smith, is now a win- ner in three straight races. The Williams raise the youngsters at their farm and prepare them for their careers as race horses.
“We really enjoy watching all our colts
play at home,” Randy Williams shared follow- ing the win. “Our house sits in the middle
and we have paddocks on three sides, so we watch them a lot. The funny thing about ‘Moon’ is he was turned out with three others when he was little. They would get to running, and he always ran behind them. He doesn’t run behind them anymore.
“The thing about this is it takes a whole team effort to get here, and
everyone has to do their job. It takes a lot of hard work, and we want to thank the entire team and Randy and Deb (Smith) for all their time and work with the horses.”
WRS Moonin Thewagon is out of unraced WRS Quick Wagon. He is now a winner in three of five starts and the $72,908 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $96,496.
Runner-up On A New Note (One Fabulous Eagle-Corona Cerveza) raced close to the win- ner throughout and fought gamely under Isidro Banuelos to secure the place spot for owner Brian Gunder and trainer Jeff Yoder.
Kisses Forever (Kiss My Hocks-Forever Bradgelina) finished third in a game effort. German Rodriguez was aboard the sorrel filly for owner/trainer Anthony Cunningham.
Julias Dazzle (Foose-Effortless Shazoom), Wanna Be A Runaway (EC Jet One-Runaway Model), Jess Ally (One Sweet Jess-Ally Bye Bye), AA Storm The Mozoomo (Mo Zoomo- Grace The Storm), Shez Bodacious (Bodacious Dash-Gotta Money Pop), BP Fancy Lady (Im A Fancy PYC-BP First Ladys Alibi) and Lone Cartel (This Cartel Is Cold-Executive Belle), who was disqualified from 8th and placed 10th for interference.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
$132,560 • 350 yards :17.799 • si 93
One Famous Eagle
Moonin The Eagle
Your First Moon
WRS MOONIN THEWAGON, ‘18-g.
PYC Paint Your Wagon
WRS Quick Wagon
WRS Quick Sister
SPEEDHORSE November 2020 139
Coady Photography Coady Photography