-photo Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (May 1, 2004) - Live racing returned to Sam Houston Race Park on Kentucky Derby Day and an enthusiastic crowd of 9,214 enjoyed Smarty Jones' win in the 130th Run for the Roses. Eleven live Quarter Horse races were on the Saturday evening card and 2003 Sam Houston Futurity winner, Jack Zee Quick returned to the winner's circle as he captured the $14,000 Gulf Coast Stakes.

Trained by John Boegner, the 3-year-old son of Royal Quick Dash is bred and owned by Dallas Blakely and R.P. Stuart of Fort Worth, Texas. He is undefeated at Sam Houston Race Park as he was the fastest qualifier in the Sam Houston Futurity and won the $300,000 final on September 6, 2003.

Raul Ramirez, Jr. rode Jack Zee Quick for the first time this evening and had an uneventful trip, covering the 350-yard event in a time of :17.717.

The bay gelding earned $8,400 for the victory, increasing his career bankroll to $165,757.

"This was his first out and we were a little worried," commented Blakely. "John told me he might be just a little late, but he got it done."

Blakely indicated that Jack Zee Quick will make his next start at Delta Downs, but will return to Sam Houston Race Park for the Sam Houston Derby, Texas Classic and one of the MBNA Challenge stakes.

A Pilgrim, trained by Guy Hopkins and ridden by James Brooks, ran second. Sent off at odds of 29-1, the son of Strawfly Special is owned by Hitchin Post Farm.

"It was a clean trip," said Brooks. "He really looked good. He kind of hung about 100 yards from the wire. Then, he switched to try for the lead and we tried to catch the leader. But we just ran out of racetrack."

Arosa O Toole tired in the stretch but held on for third under Rodrigo Vallejo. The 3-year-old filly is trained by "Tooter"Jordan.

"She got a good break and ran straight as a string," said Jordan. "It didn't come up quite as tough as I thought it might after seeing nominations, but that gelding won a Grade 1 and even with the tail wind. They went fast. It's a shame it wasn't 330 instead of 350."

Jack Zee Quick, the heavy favorite in the eight-horse field, returned $3.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $3.00 to show. The 5-6 exacta paid $74.20 and the trifecta returned $1,347.40. Completing the rest of the field were Mws Fame, Impac on Ice, Special Razzledazzle, Cash for Valentine and Wassup T Doc.