TW A Political Beach quickest qualifier in Governor’s Stake Trials at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Five trials for the Governor’s Stake kicked off the final all-Quarter Horse racing program Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

TW A Political Beach and Diego Villamil Bocanegra turned in the quickest time of 41 starters to lead the way into the $326,600 final of the 30^th running of the Governor’s Stake, the state’s first pari-mutuel Quarter Horse race held in 1997 at Hoosier Park.

TW A Political Beach (main photo) was the favorite and looked like it right out of the gate. The two-year-old sorrel filly came out of the gate with authority, leading the entire 400-yard dash to score the victory by one length in a time of 20.061 seconds.

Chilito and Martin Munoz finished second over Fatimaa and Giovani Vazquez Gomez.

TW A Political Beach paid $2.60 for the win. The daughter of Apollitical Jess is owned and bred by Tom Wylie of Ohio. She is now four for five in her young career and has hopes to bring the Governor’s Stake title back to her connections.

Her older brother, TV Streakin Cowboy, won the race last season for Wylie, Villamil-Bocanegra and trainer Natasha Perez. TW A Political Beach is now on a four-race win streak heading into the Governor’s Stake final.

Four of the five Governor’s Stake trial winners advanced to the final, including the second fastest on the day Valiant Kiss, ridden by Rolando Pina. The sorrel gelding with a high head carriage was in a battle early on with Relentless Friend and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez before getting the edge and then dealing with stablemate Kool Kisses and Eduardo Diaz at the wire.

But Valiant Kiss prevailed, winning in a time of 20.09 seconds. Kool Kisses finished a neck back in second and a neck ahead of Relentless Friend at the wire.

Valiant Kiss (photo) paid $7.40 for the win. The Kiss My Hocks freshman is owned by Steve Zamler, who is currently third in the leading Quarter Horse owner standings this season. Tim Eggleston, the track’s defending leading Quarter Horse trainer, handles the conditioning of the two-year-old, who was a $50,000 purchase from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last fall. It was his second career win for his connections.

Other trial winners included Dangerous Carolina (20.111), Flying Blonde 123 (20.235) and Hammer Down Cartel (20.406), who just missed the top 10 to advance to the final.

The full field, with jockey and time, headed to the Governor’s Stake final includes: TW A Political Beach (20.061, Diego Villamil Bocanegra); Valiant Kiss (20.09, Rolando Pina); Dangerous Carolina (20.111, Rolando Pina); Kool Kisses (20.129, Eduardo Diaz); Red Sleeve (20.139, Edgar Diaz); Relentless Friend (20.177, Giovani Vazquez Gomez); Chilito (20.219, Martin Munoz); Flying Blonde 123 (20.235, Fernando Morin); Mr Unico (20.31, Martin Munoz); and Fatimaa (20.352, Giovani Vazquez-Gomez).

Tim Eggleston will saddle three for the final (Valiant Kiss, Dangerous Carolina, Kool Kisses) with Claudio Barraza (Red Sleeve, Flying Blonde 123) and Jessica Vazquez (Relentless Friend, Fatimaa) each saddling two.

The Governor’s Stake will be one of six Quarter Horse stakes on the Indiana Champions Day card Oct. 24 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The day will feature six Thoroughbred premier events followed by six Quarter Horse stakes with purses exceeding $1.6 million for the day.

First post is at noon for the seventh annual Indiana Champions Day.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.