The Texas Classic Futurity, which was recently run at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, boasted a total purse (including two consolation races) of $1 million. The winner's purse of $370,000 was taken home by Pretty Boy Perry. The Texas Classic Futurity is the richest race in Texas and third richest Quarter Horse race in the world, only behind the All American Futurity and Los Alamitos Million.

Pretty Boy Perry surged past Shining Sky, the nation's top-ranked 2-year-old and 3-to-2 favorite, in the final yards to post a mild upset in the Texas Classic Futurity. The lucrative win in Texas' richest horse race was worth $370,000 to auto dealer Buzz Post of Hitchin Post Farms in Waxahachie, Texas.

Pretty Boy Perry, a 9-1 outsider ridden by James N. Brooks and trained by Guy Hopkins, defeated favored Shining Sky by a neck. Sweet First Down was another half-length behind in third, with early leader Dashing Little Reba in fourth. Dashing Little Reba was the fastest qualifier for the race.

"We're all smiles," Post said. "We knew that if he got away [from the starting gate], it would take a heck of a horse to run him down. There were some good horses in this race, some of the best in the world. He just showed the class he has and the heart."

Breaking from post position number four in the field of eight, Pretty Boy Perry got away from the starting gate in good order and was well-positioned in the early stages of the 400-yard sprint. He crossed the finish line in a swift :19.63 to post the second fastest clocking in the nine year old stakes race - only 15-hundredths of a second off Eyesa Special's stakes and track record set in 2000.

"Earlier this summer, the horse had been sore," Hopkins said. "But when we came up here, he trained really well. He ran an outstanding trial [race] and made the cut, which is really hard here."

Pretty Boy Perry, a son of 1994 Texas Classic Futurity winner Mr. Jess Perry out of the Raise Your Glass mare Elected, posted the second fastest qualifying time (:19.759) after a dozen trials on November 17. Before the Texas Classic Futurity final, Hopkins and Brooks worked vigorously with the Texas-bred colt's starting gate habits.

"We galloped him a couple of times before the race, but the weather got bad for three days," Hopkins said. "We needed to stand him [in the starting gate] one more time. The day we stood him, it was real cold and the wind was blowing. But I told Jimmy that we had to do it and it would pay off.

"He really paid attention [on race day] and stepped away real good. [Shining Sky] was a real good horse on the inside of us. That was a horse race from the get go. In the trial, he really finished well and tonight was the same thing. He reached out good and finished nice."

Dashing Little Reba, Party Man Can, Diamonds for Toni, Dash For Cash Futurity winner Baby Doll Form and First Regards completed the order of finish. Run and Pray was an early scratch by trainer John Buchanan. Bermuda Blue was a late veterinarian scratch after rearing in the gate just moments before the start of the race.

It was Pretty Boy Perry's fourth victory from eight starts on the year. The $370,000 winner's share of the purse boosted his bankroll to $436,257.