(Grand Prairie, Texas - Thursday, September 22, 2015) - The 2016 edition of the Grade 3 Dash for Cash Derby has attracted 80 contenders, which shatters the previous record number of entries of 62 recorded in 1999. These will be split 10 each in eight trial races Friday, September 23. All entrants will be vying for a spot in the final to be run Saturday, October 8. Only the fastest 10 times in the trials will advance.

There are so many nice horses entered in the trials, and any one of them could get up and win, so don't discount any that interest you. That said here are a couple that stood out:

In the eighth is a graded stakes winner by The Louisiana Cartel named Tlc Dale. His record for the year is 6-4-1-1, with earnings of $122,668. At two, he ran second in two starts here last year, in the Dash for Cash Futurity trials and then the Dash for Cash Juvenile Stakes. What a positive move forward as a three-year-old for this gelding. In July, he won the Grade 3, TQHA Classic Stakes at Retama, but he was disqualified to third because of a troubled start. Also in July, he just missed by a neck in the Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs, and in April he won the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby. Tlc Dale is owned by Rogelio Garza Guajardo and trained by Adrian Huitron. Manuel Gutierrez has the mount.

The fifth race has Double H Racing Investment's Politically Corrupt. A three-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, he won the Grade 3 Retama Derby in July, his last out, and in May at Delta Downs, he was the beaten favorite, finishing third in the Old South Derby. His 2016 record so far is 5-4-0-1 for $89,028. Manuel Gutierrez will ride for trainer Jose Sanchez.

Again, with 80 entered, there are plenty to look over and consider, and trial night is always exciting.

The Dash for Cash Derby Trials will be run as races two through nine on the nine-race card. First-race post time 6:35 p.m. The second race, first of the trials, has a scheduled post time of 7:10 p.m.

Increased Business Levels Opening Weekend

On Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17, Lone Star Park attracted a total of 8,766 fans for opening weekend of the 2016 Quarter Horse meeting. It was a 4.2% increase over the same two nights in 2015.

Also, the total on-track handle of $1,069,264 was up 9.94% from 2015, when a total of $972,582 was wagered over the same two nights.