(Grand Prairie, Texas - Friday, September 16, 2011) - Denis & Julie Schoenhofer’s First Klas Fred, trained by Heath Taylor, cruised to victory in the 14th Running of the $25,000 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Handicap (RG3) over a sloppy track on opening night at Lone Star Park Friday.

Ridden by G.R. Carter, Jr., the four-year-old bay son of Fredricksburg, who Taylor trained to victory in this event in 2005, had an uneventful trip after breaking well and outrunning his five rivals to the finish stopping the teletimer in 17.381 for the 350 yard-distance, earning a speed index of 102. It was a length back to Four Six Chicks in second, and another head back to third-place finisher Double Dealin N Cash.

“He ran really good,” said winning rider G. R. Carter, Jr. “He ran one race at Retama (August 6) this year and that race set him up well for this. We were expecting him to run the way he did.”

With the win, First Klas Fred improved his race record to five wins from 18 starts and with the $15,750 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings to $532,902.

First Klas Fred paid $3.60, $5.20, $2.80, runner-up Four Six Chicks returned $4.40, $3.00, and Double Dealin N Cash paid $4.20 for show. Executive Dynasty, RC Grimm and Bar Winning Jet completed the order of finish.