(Grand Prairie, Texas - Friday, October 6, 2017) - When Lone Star Park opened for racing in 1997, American Quarter Horse racing had been staged each fall, but in 2004 the dates were transferred to Sam Houston Race Park. Fall Quarter Horse racing at Lone Star Park was replaced with a 19-date Thoroughbred meeting to accommodate the 21st Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. One Quarter Horse race, however, was run on the eve of the Breeders' Cup races, the Refrigerator Handicap (G1). 

The Grade 1, $75,000 Guaranteed Refrigerator Handicap will be contested again on Saturday, October 7 as the featured eighth race on the nine-race card. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. First race post time is 6:35 p.m.

Entered in the Grade 1 Refrigerator is Heza Bell Perry, who has drawn the outside post. Owned by Jose Heriberto Rodriguez, the six-year-old gelded son of Heza Fast Dash is a graded stakes winner of $195,106 in career earnings. He has won four of his five starts this year, most recently the Mid-City Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds last month. It appears trainer Robert Meche has the horse in top form coming into this race. Jockey Alfonso Lujan has been aboard for all five outs this year and will retain the mount.

The 5-2 morning line favorite is graded stakes placed Dutcher. He is owned by Jumonville Farms & Brian Ranch and trained by Jimmy Padgett. Still looking for that first graded stakes win, the five-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess has only won one of four starts this year, a starter allowance at Sam Houston last March. He has career earnings of $186,133 from a record 21-4-5-2. Rodrigo Vallejo has been named to ride.

The field for the 21st Refrigerator Handicap from the rail out with rider and morning line odds is as follows: He Is the Risingstar (Jose Alvarez, 4-1), Apollitical Wave (Francisco Mendez, 12-1), Wild Tycoon (Raul Ramirez, Jr., 12-1), Ebw Catalyst (Larry Gamez, 8-1), Kid Can Dash (Luis Vivanco, 10-1), Cobalt Creek (Ricky Ramirez, 5-1), Kw Cowboy (Gaspar Garcia, 15-1), Dutcher (Rodrigo Vallejo, 5-2), Kraken Black (Eddie Sanchez, 20-1), and Heza Bell Perry (Alfonso Lujan, 6-1).