(Saturday, November 22, 2008) - Got Country Grip, owned by Jimmy Maddux and trained by Brandon Parum, won the 11th running of the Grade 1, $20,000 Olympia Joe Paint & Appaloosa Handicap, for three-year-olds and upward, over a fast track at Lone Star Park on Saturday night.

With Kenny Muntz in the saddle, Got Country Grip was sharp out of the gate before drifting out wide through most of the stretch, but he was strong enough to hit the finish first in an extremely competitive renewal of the Olympia Joe. The bay son of Country Quick Dash finished a head in front of archrival Sm Country Snowman, who beat Got Country Grip in back-to-back starts prior to the Olympia Joe. The five-year-old gelding stopped the teletimer in 19.996 for a winning speed index of 91. It was a neck back to Bust N Moves in third.

With the win, Got Country Grip improved his record to 17 wins from 20 starts and with the $12,200 winner’s share boosted his career earnings to $287,028, including a perfect four-for-four and $98,819 at Lone Star Park.

Got Country Grip paid $3.40, $3.20, $2.10, runner-up Sm Country Snowman returned $2.60, $2.10, and Bust N Moves paid $2.20 for show. G I Jana, Mini Melt, Texas Royal Snow, and Jubious Illusion completed the order of finish.

Pf Chief Running Bear Breaks Maiden to Win Lone Star Park Paint & Appaloosa Futurity

Pf Chief Runnin Bear, owned by S. Koltiska and L. & B. Bettinger, broke his maiden in his fourth career start to win the third running of the 350-yard, $70,800 Lone Star Park Paint & Appaloosa Futurity, for eligible two-year-old Paints and Appaloosas, over a fast track on Saturday at Lone Star Park

In breaking his maiden, Pf Chief Runnin Bear broke well, took the lead early and held off all challengers to finish a length-and-a-quarter in front of his nearest rival Paleface Dale. It was another half-a-length back to Cuzimfromthecountry. The winner covered the 350-yard distance in 17.865 seconds to earn a speed index of 90.

The two-year-old gelding’s win was the third of the night for jockey Rodrigo Vallejo and the second for his trainer Judd Kearl.

With his first win in four tries and the winner’s share of $28,320, Pf Chief Runnin Bear increased his lifetime earnings to $30,293.

A 13-1 longshot, Pf Chief Runnin Bear paid $29.20, $12.00, $7.80, Paleface Dale returned $5.40, $3,60 and Cuzimfromthecountry paid $4.00 to show. Awesome Judy, Make No Shadows, Lonestar Legend, This Judys a Corona, First Down Hero, and Appsolutely Wicked completed the order of finish. Flash N B Gone was scratched.

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, Sept. 26-27, racing will be held every Thursday through Saturday in October and each Wednesday through Saturday in November, except Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 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.