Governor Sam has third straight win in Indian Summer Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The young runner Governor Sam earned his third straight stakes win, and veteran jockey Paco Lopez earned his 4,000th career victory in a score that should send them to the Breeders’ Cup together next month after Sunday’s neck triumph in the $250,000 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland.

Although the Indian Summer, for 2-year-old turf sprinters, is not a “Win and You’re In” race, it is a prep toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, set for Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Governor Sam ($5.48) emerged from a scramble down the backstretch for the lead, firing off his opening quarter in 20.81 seconds and the half in 44.06 seconds, turning back a challenge from the tracking Floodlites into the stretch. He then held off familiar foe Out On Bail, who had raced in eighth early, in the final yards for his neck
score, finishing the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.72.

“He was very good,” Lopez said. “George [Weaver, trainer] said, ‘Paco, the horse is ready. Do whatever you want to do in the race – depending if you get the lead, if you want to sit second, you find out at the break.’ He did it. He’s a very nice colt, and he’s doing very well.”

Lopez, who turns 39 next week, began riding in his native Mexico before moving his tack to Florida in 2007. He was the Eclipse Award outstanding apprentice jockey in 2008. Lopez’s career is highlighted by eight Grade 1 wins, including the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Roy H.

“When you work hard, then coming to America and having the opportunity to ride here, I feel great to have that opportunity every day,” Lopez said. “Now I’ll try for 5,000.”

After Governor Sam, trained by George Weaver for Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables, broke his maiden at Saratoga, Lopez has been aboard for the colt’s three stakes scores at three different tracks. He won the Tyro Stakes in August at Monmouth, then the Rosie’s Stakes last month at Colonial Downs, with Out On Bail also second in that effort.

After Governor Sam and Out On Bail in this exacta, it was 1 1/2 lengths back to Floodlites, who held off Chasing Liberty, who rallied from last, by a neck for third. They were followed by G W’s Girl, Moon Sniper, Pharoah’s Dynasty, Just Keep Looking, Fiddling Felix, Bad Gal Party, Jet Sweep Joe, and Raise the Bar.