-photo by Sandra Beck/Coady Photography

-photo by Sandra Beck/Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (September 18, 2004) - Gray Invasion won his third race of the Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse meeting tonight, closing powerfully to capture the $18,500 TQHA Sires' Cup Stakes. Owned by Claudio Aguilar of Edinburg, Texas and trained by Frank Cavazos, the 5-year-old son of Chicks Beduino was ridden to victory by jockey, J. R. Ramirez.

Four horses neared the finish line, almost in unison, with Gray Invasion prevailing by a nose over The Blazin Man, Big Red Tequila and Prime Talent. The handsome gray crossed the wire of the 400-yard contest in a time of :19.881. This was his third win of the meeting and his second stakes victory as he won the $45,250 TQHA "550" Stakes (RG3) on July 30, also with Ramirez aboard.

"This was just my second time to ride him and both times he ran a big race for me," said Ramirez. "He was real aggressive today, but stood perfectly in the gates. The five horse was right next to us, but he just ran him down.
He's a big horse and can really cover some ground."

Rodrigo Vallejo rode The Blazin Man to his second place finish. The 6-year-old son of Heza Fast Man was making his first start since running third in the JEH Stallion Stakes last November at Lone Star Park.

"He did extremely well," said trainer Eloy Gonzalez. "He's been off for a long time. He needed to race. I'm extremely proud of him. He got caught there at the very end. He just needed the race. But he'll be back."

Big Red Tequila from the barn of Janet Van Bebber, was third with John Hamilton aboard.

"He gave me all he had," said Hamilton. "Janet has done wonders with this horse as he stepped up against some tough competition and gave them a run."

Gray Invasion paid $5.60 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. The exacta with The Blazin Man returned $32.60 and the trifecta with Big Red Tequila paid $140.20. Prime Talent, Eye Aint Scared, Takin On the Gold and Fax This Form completed the order of finish.

Cavazos, who will saddle fastest qualifier Azoom in Friday night's $350,000 Sam Houston Futurity, indicated that Gray Invasion would be pointed to the Refrigerator Handicap.