(Grand Prairie, Texas - Saturday, November 11, 2017) - Mauro Luciano Villarreal's Thecartelofmiracle, at odds of 14-1, won the 25th renewal of the lucrative Texas Classic Futurity (G1) on Saturday night at Lone Star Park. With jockey Manuel Gutierrez at the helm, the gelding by Tough and Good broke in at the start and bumped Legacy Eagle hard, but took command and had the lead all the way. Favorite Hotstepper made up ground on the outside, finishing a game second by a neck. It was another neck to third place This Is an Eagle. Winning time for the 400-yard race was :19.800 seconds over a fast track. Speed index was 94.

"He did everything great as far as coming back and eating well," said winning trainer Alonso Neri. "We left it all in God's hands and thank God we got the win today. Manny did an awesome job. I want to thank everyone for the opportunity, and it was a really good race. We'll give him a little rest and celebrate the win."

Mutuels on the winner paid $29.20, $10.40, $5.80. Hotstepper returned $3.40, $3.00, and This Is an Eagle returned $3.00 for show.

Starfield, Cartel Cupid, Legacy Eagle, Another Shot, Factual Basis, and This Is a Deal Too completed the order of finish. Streakin Seis Corona was scratched.

With the $388,761 winner's share, Thecartelofmiracle increased his earnings to $419,539. This was his fourth win from nine career starts.

G. R. Carter, Jr. Wins Second Straight Texas Classic Derby, This Time Aboard Apolitical Chad

It was back-to-back wins in the $384,355 Texas Classic Derby (G1) for jockey G. R. Carter, Jr. as he piloted Apolltical Chad across the wire first in the 25th running of the race. It was record fifth overall Texas Classic Derby win for Carter, Jr. He won previously in 1997, 2006, 2009, and 2016.

"I’m glad I came out of retirement because I've won this race two years in a row now," said G. R. Carter, Jr. "The horse looked phenomenal. Wes left him here between the trials, and he put on a little weight and he must really like hanging out in Texas. He really blossomed. He left the gate really well. High Plains Perry was right there with me, but we made a nice little run to get away from him. He made the jockey look real good."

Owned by Nueve Racing and trained by Wesley Giles, Apolltical Chad broke out at the start but took the lead and gamely ran the 440-yard distance in :21.525 seconds, earning a speed index of 95 for the effort over a fast racetrack. Graceful Eagle was second by a neck, and it was three-quarters of a length back to Percyjones in third. Favorite Duponte was sixth.

"We've had a lot of problems with him eating," said winning trainer Wesley Giles. "I think the layoff and the rest helped, and he just started eating and put on about 70 pounds. If he's not going to do it now, he's not going to get it done. He's an exceptional horse."

Apolltical Chad paid $15.00, $6.20 and $4.20. Graceful Eagle paid $7.80, $4.80, and Percyjones paid $8.60. Political Mess, Tac My Time, Duponte, Corona Carmelita, Dash Quick Perry, and High Plaines Perry completed the order. Paint My Pilot was a late scratch.

The first place check of $171,039 increased his earnings to $874,665. It was the sixth win of 12 lifetime starts for the gelded son of Apollitical Jess.

Meet End Champions

Winning his seventh Lone Star Park champion jockey title was Ricky Ramirez. He captured 27 wins during the 26-day meeting. Second was Luis Vivanco with 23 wins, and Francisco Calderon was third with 18 wins.

Trainer Trey Wood clinched his sixth Lone Star Park training title with 21 victories. Leon Bard was second at 15 wins, and Jimmy Padgett was third with 10.

The owner title came down to the final night of racing when, in the eighth race, Paragon Farms, LLC's Hierarchy won giving, them seven wins and breaking a three-way tie with Terry & Irene Stennett and HEH Holdings, LLC each with six.

Additional Notes

The winner of the $45,979 Texas Classic Juvenile Stakes was Hierarchy, owned by Paragon Farms, LLC, trained by Trey Wood, and ridden by Ricky Ramirez.