Governor Goteven wins Generous Portion Stakes

San Luis Rey Training Center filly Governor Goteven won the Sunday, Aug. 30, Generous Portion Stakes at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Governor Goteven and jockey Tiago Pereira had a winning time of 1:12.21 in the six-furlong race for California-bred 2-year-old fillies on Del Mar's dirt track. They finished 4 1/2 lengths ahead of second place I'm So Anna.

"Pretty exciting," trainer Lisa Bernard said.

"It was great. Great to run and great to win," owner Linda Templeton said. "We're so excited."

The first-place finish gave Governor Goteven her third win in three career starts.

"She's been improving every single time through all of her races, all of her training," Bernard said.

"She did beautiful. I think she's getting better every time I see her," Templeton said.

Pereira has been the jockey for all three of Governor Goteven's races.

"He's so good with her. I think she really likes him," Templeton said.

Bernard thus minimized instructions to Pereira before the race.

"He knows the horse," Bernard said.

Pereira and Governor Goteven broke second with Emma's Dance and jockey Ruben Fuentes breaking first.

"I think she broke good," Bernard said.

The first quarter of a mile took Governor Goteven 21.96 seconds, and she was in the lead at that point with Emma's Dance in second a head behind Governor Goteven.

"We worried about speed. She got caught up a little bit," Bernard said.

In horse racing, "speed" refers to horses with fast starts. Those horses win if they build up enough of a lead to hold off the horses who excel at closing.

Six furlongs is considered a sprint, so the fast quarter mile did not tire Governor Goteven.

"She did get caught a little bit. That did worry me," Bernard said.

Bernard was not worried when Emma's Dance moved into the lead during the next two furlongs. Half a mile into the race she was a head in front of Governor Goteven, who was two lengths in front of third place Do You Hear That. Emma's Dance needed 45.79 seconds to reach the half-mile point.

"In racing there are always different variables, different things that can occur," Bernard said. "When they get to the starting gate, it's all on that individual horse, the athlete. There's nothing I can do. You have to have faith in her training."

Governor Goteven regained the lead, and 58.75 seconds after the start of the race she entered the stretch a length in front of Emma's Dance, who was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of third place I'm So Anna.

"When she got a little bit of room, she was able to do her normal thing," Bernard said.

Emma's Dance fell back in the stretch. I'm So Anna finished half a length in front of Big Andy, who crossed the finish line a length ahead of Emma's Dance.

"She did everything I expected her to do," Bernard said of Governor Goteven. "She did everything that I had hoped for."

Templeton was not expecting the 4 1/2 length margin of victory.

"I know she's good," Templeton said. "She's got the power there."

For Bernard, the 4 1/2-length margin of victory indicated that the distance of the race was appropriate.

"I always knew from the beginning that she needed to go longer," Bernard said.

On Aug. 1, Governor Goteven won the 5 1/2-furlong California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes. Big Andy finished second, 3 1/2 lengths in back of Governor Goteven. Governor Goteven made her racing debut with a 4 1/2-furlong race May 29 at Santa Anita Park and won by a neck after entering the stretch second.

"I felt confident about this race," Bernard said of the Generous Portion Stakes.

"I don't expect to win because so many things can happen during the race, but I knew in my head that the race was set up for her," Bernard said. "She was set up for this."

The total purse for the race was $100,000. The first-place share of $57,000 brought Governor Goteven's career earnings to $144,000.

"She ran really good, came out of the race really good. I can't complain," Bernard said.

"She came out of the race absolutely perfect," Templeton said.

Governor Goteven was foaled at Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs Feb. 26, 2018. She was sired by Governor Charlie out of Time Linda Goteven. Her first timed workout was March 7 at San Luis Rey, and she had nine additional workouts at San Luis Rey before five workouts on the Del Mar track during the summer meet.

"She likes Del Mar," Templeton said.

Although the coronavirus safety measures prevented owners from being in the winner's circle with the horse and also prevented owners from being in the paddock, the owners were allowed in the grandstands and were also allowed to stand outside the paddock when their horses were there.

"Del Mar did such a great job, I think, of taking care of everyone," Templeton said.

The Del Mar fall meet might include Governor Goteven's next race. Bernard is looking at a seven-furlong race.

"I would like to stretch her out a little bit," Bernard said.

Bernard is targeting Governor Goteven's next race to be in late November but has not decided upon a specific race.

"She's going to continue to train," Bernard said.

"We're going to just sit back a little bit," Templeton said. "We've got to figure out what's next. We'll just wait and see what comes up, how she does and what Lisa does. She's watching her; she knows where to put her."

The CTBA Stakes and Generous Portion Stakes victories meant that Governor Goteven, Bernard and Templeton began August with a stakes victory and ended August with a stakes victory.

"It gets better and better," Templeton said. "It's been a great August. This is such a great run."

The final day of August was Aug. 31, and that day's Daily Racing Form featured Governor Goteven on the front page.

"I wasn't expecting that," Templeton said.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].