(Grand Prairie, Texas - Friday, November 9, 2012) - Saturday's 20th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity, the richest annual horse race in Texas, highlights closing night of the 2012 Fall Meeting of Champions at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie.

Fastest qualifier, Ronnie James (19.436), blew away his rivals in his trial race two weeks ago. If his trainer, Heath Taylor, has him ready like he was then, he will be hard to beat in the premier race for two-year-olds at the meeting.

Owned by Brett Mennen, Ronnie James, a gelding by Valiant Hero, who won this race in 2006, has won five of his six lifetime starts and has accumulated earnings of $178,658. His only loss was a second place finish at Delta Downs on June 16 in a trial race for the $327,715 Firecracker Futurity, which he came back and won on July 7. John Hamilton, his regular rider, has the mount.

Trainer Judd Kearl qualified two, a filly, also by sire Valiant Hero, and Pyc Kant Katch Me. A win by Valiant Little Lady, the second fastest qualifier (19.524), would mark the first ever for a filly in the Texas Classic Futurity. Owned by Bryon Gardner, she has won three of four starts and has earned $52,630 so far in her young career.

Pyc Kant Katch Me is another offspring by a Texas Classic winner. His sire, Pyc Paint Your Wagon won this race in 2005. Owned by JNB Enterprises, LLC, the colt is a perfect five for five career wins with earnings of $82,793. He won the Remington Park Juvenile Stakes on April 14. Pyc Kant Katch Me will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo.

Also of note in the Texas Classic Futurity, Trainer Trey Wood qualified three horses in the Futurity. Eyegotitgoinon has five wins from six starts with earnings of $59,265. First Prize Shaunda is two of four lifetime starts with earnings of $5,774 and Lethal Fortune has stats of 6-2-1-1 and $6,555 in earnings.

Trainer Verle Bohner qualified two, which will run as a coupled entry, Bog Boi, 4-1-1-0 with $69,828 in earnings, and A Will and Away, 4-1-2-0, with $131,884.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Big Boi (G. R. Carter, Jr., 10-1), A Will and Away (David E. Brown, 10-1), Pyc Kant Katch Me (Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo, 4-1), Cruisin Finish (Francisco Raul Ramirez, Jr., 12-1), Valiant Lil Lady (Cody Jensen, 7-2), Eyegotitgoinon (Ramon Sanchez, 12-1), One Fast Wagon (David A. Alvarez, 15-1), Ronnie James (John Hamilton, 2-1), First Prize Shaunda (Ricky Ramirez, 8-1), and Lethal Fortune (Roy Baldillez, 10-1).

The Grade 1, $1 million Texas Classic Futurity is scheduled as race 10 on the 11-race program with a scheduled post time of 10:11 p.m. (CT).

All-Time Richest Racing Quarter Horse Ochoa Headlines Grade 1, $377,219 Texas Classic Derby

Ochoa, trained by Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath, has been installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite in the 20th running of the Grade 1, $377,219 Texas Classic Derby, at the distance of 440 yards, Saturday night at Lone Star Park.

The gelding by Tres Seis is the richest racing American Quarter Horse in history. He won the Grade 1, $903,774 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs July 21, and the Grade 1, $2,234,539 All American Derby, also at Ruidoso, September 2. The second fastest qualifier for the Texas Classic Derby (21.394), Ochoa has won nine of 11 starts bankrolling $2,604,653 in earnings. Roy Baldillez will have the mount.

Linda Tee Fire, owned by Double Eagle Ranch Inc. & Buena Suerte Equine and trained by Michael Joiner, will be out to deny Ochoa. The gelding by Walk Thru Fire, recorded the fastest qualifying time in the trials for the Texas Classic Derby with a time of 21.383. Linda Tee Fire has three wins and five seconds out of 11 lifetime starts for $166,300 in earnings. Winning his trial to qualify for the 2011 Texas Classic Futurity, he finished a troubled ninth in the final. He could redeem himself with a win in this year's Derby.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Texasindependencegal (Eleazar Guillen, 12-1), Haulin Candy Salt (Tony Ray Bennett, 15-1), Runaway Wagon (David A. Alvarez, 5-1), Ochoa (Roy Baldillez, 7-5), A Toss Up (Jimmy Dean Brooks, 8-1), The Lone Knife (Ramon Sanchez, 20-1), Lethal Volt (Ricky Ramirez, 15-1), Linda Tee Fire (G. R. Carter, Jr., 4-1), Separate Cartel (Luis L. Vivanco, 20-1), and Sarah Must (Jerry Lee Yoakum, 15-1).

The Grade 1, $377,219 Texas Classic Derby is scheduled as race nine on the 11-race program with a scheduled post time of 9:47 p.m. (CT).

First Running of the $80,459 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes Saturday Night at Lone Star Park

Saturday night's eighth race on the card is the first running of the $80,459 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes for two-year-olds that competed in the trials, but did not qualify for the Texas Classic Futurity.

Tayte Me Down, trained by Mike Robbins has been given 5-2 morning line odds by Lone Star Park's track handicapper, Rick Lee. A filly by Special Leader has three wins and one second from four starts and earnings of $9,460. Tayte Me Down is owned by Merle & Joe Kirk Fulton and will be ridden by Jose Alvarez.

Second choice in the morning line at 4-1 is Sassmaster. A gelding by Tr Dasher, he has a record of 6-2-2-1 with earnings of $206,019. He is trained by Eusevio Huitron and will be ridden by Francisco Ramirez, Jr.

The field from the rail out, with jockey and morning line odds listed in parenthesis, consists of: Rooms by the Hour (Santos Carrizales, 10-1), Ivory Owl (Francisco Calderon, 15-1), Malcom Quinn (Russel Hadley, 5-1), Tayte Me Down (Jose Amador Alvarez, 5-2), Blaze Carver (Larry D. Payne, 15-1), Racey Winner (Luis L. Vivanco, 12-1), Sassmaster (Francisco Raul Ramirez, Jr., 4-1), One Bald Eagle (Ricky Ramirez, 6-1), Ivory Coast Girl (Esgar Ramirez, 15-1), and Don’t Tell Lila (Oscar Rincon, 10-1).

The $80,459 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes is the scheduled eighth race program with a scheduled post time of 9:23 p.m. (CT).

On The Track: Live racing wraps up for the 2012 Fall Meeting of Champions tomorrow, Saturday, November 10, 2012. We would like to thank all the fans who came out this season!

The American Quarter Horse Association's Q-Racing Ace, Martha Claussen will be here and giving away free handicapping materials and a tip sheet courtesy of AQHA Racing. Plus a pre-race handicapping show with Martha, Track Announcer, John Lies and Lone Star Park Handicapper, Rick Lee. They will each give in-depth analysis of the featured stakes races.

Closing night is Fan Appreciation Night! Fans will have the opportunity to win great prizes in our drawings between the races! Prizes include Mutuel Vouchers and Gift Cards! Entry forms must be deposited in the entry bins before the 7 p.m. entry deadline on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

At The Bar & Book: Although the Fall Meeting of Champions Live Quarter Horse Racing Season is drawing to a close, simulcast racing continues seven days a week at the Bar & Book,
please make plans to join us!

Happy Hour is going on each Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the Bar & Book. Included are $3 well drinks and $2 select domestic drafts!

Thursday nights at the Bar & Book come play in the World Poker Tour Amateur Poker League. Two sessions each Thursday, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and it's free to play! Mutuel vouchers awarded weekly, monthly and annually.

Join us on Saturday, November 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Bar & Book for a free handicapping seminar hosted by Track Announcer, John Lies! John will preview Hollywood Park's season and provide expert analysis into the day's race card. Don't miss it!

November's Seminar Series will continue on Saturday, November 17 with Award-Winning Turf Writer, Gary West and on Saturday, November 24 with Track Handicapper, Rick Lee.

Have tickets to the big game? Ride the Bar & Book Express to all Dallas home games this season! Bus will depart 1 hour and 2 hours prior to kickoff and cost per person is just $10 to ride or is free with $20 minimum food & beverage purchase.* Watch, wager and win on the races and enjoy NFL Sunday Ticket all day every Sunday! Don't miss it!

Schedule:
Sunday, November 18: Cleveland - Noon
Thursday, November 22: Washington - 3:15 p.m.
Sunday, December 2: Philadelphia - 7:20 p.m.
Sunday, December 16: Pittsburgh - 3:25 p.m.
Sunday, December 23: New Orleans - Noon
*Must show dated receipt to attendant before boarding.