At nine years old, God of Love may no longer carry the fire of his prime, but on Saturday, October 11, 2025, he proved that the heart of a champion still beats strong. In the second of nine races at Caymanas Park, the seasoned bay gelding surged to his 18th career win, a true indication of his endurance.
Breaking sharply in the five-furlong round sprint, God of Love, ridden by claiming apprentice Richie Shakes and trained by Fitzgerald Richards, took command early and never looked back. He maintained his gallop through the stretch, crossing the line 3½ lengths clear in a final time of 1:03.1.
It was a familiar script for the son of Adore The Gold out of Shanda D, whose front-running style has long been his trademark. Though age has tempered his brilliance, Saturday’s performance showed there’s still a spark in those veteran legs.
For Shakes, the win marked his 27th of the season, while Richards found a rare bright spot in a challenging campaign. God of Love was just his third winner from 24 starters this year.
“God of Love is a horse I truly care for,” Richards shared with Quickgallopja.com. “He’s brought joy to me and to everyone at the stables.”
The victory also pushed God of Love’s career earnings past the $16 million mark, a grand feat for a horse who’s raced 70 times and continues to deliver.
Following the race, trainer Jason DaCosta submitted a successful claim for the gelding at $350,000. In total, 15 claims were filed, underscoring the respect God of Love still commands in the claiming ranks.
He may not be the force he once was, but God of Love remains a competitor—and on Saturday, he reminded everyone why he’s earned his name.
