(Saturday, September 27, 2008) - Lone Star Park’s 2008 Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses kicked off with the Restricted Grade 3, $30,000 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Handicap on Friday, September 26 and the $17,500 Red River Handicap on Saturday, September 27.

Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Handicap

Jesus Huitron’s Eyesa Jumpn overcame an awkward start to hold off the late charge of Eyesa Sam to win by a head in the 11th running of the Restricted Grade 3, $30,000 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Handicap for Texas breds, three years old and up, at Lone Star Park on Friday night. Trained by Eusevio Huitron, Eyesa Sam and jockey Santos Carrizales covered the 350-yard distance in 17.755 seconds to earn a Speed Index of 93.

With a strong finish, Snowy Alibi ran third only a nose behind the second-place finisher.

With the victory, the three-year-old filly improved her career record to nine wins in 23 starts, including three of five at Lone Star Park, and boosted her lifetime earnings by $17,700 to $456,870. Eyesa Jumpn paid $20.00 to win.

Red River Handicap

Tommy L. Bullard’s City Class barely held off the late challenge of Heza Marquette Maker to win the ninth running of the $17,500 Red River Handicap, for three-year-olds and up, by a nose at Lone Star Park on Saturday. Jockey Russel Hadley, who got a jump on the field right out of the gate, rode the John Buchanan trainee over the 870-yard distance in 45.388 to earn a Speed Index of 96. Wood Climber finished third another three lengths back.

The win improved City Class’s career record to five wins in 21 starts and increased the four-year-old gelding’s lifetime earnings by $10,325 to $92,490. The winner paid $7.20.

Lone Star Park’s 31-day, 2008 Quarter Horse Fall Meeting of Champions will be held from September 26 to November 29. After the opening weekend on Friday and Saturday, September 26-27, racing will be held every Thursday through Saturday in October and each Wednesday through Saturday in November, except Wednesday and Thursday, November 26-27 when there will be no live racing due to the Thanksgiving holiday. First post time for all dates will be 6:35 p.m. For more information, visit the track’s Web site at www.lonestarpark.com.