(November 25, 2006) - Heza Marquette Maker, the lone 3-year-old in a field of seven American Quarter Horses, closed well in the stretch to beat 7-5 favorite Natural Task by 1 ¾ lengths in Saturday’s $20,000 Lone Star Park Distance Championship at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Heza Marquette Maker, ridden by Jeff Jerman and carrying 124 pounds, covered the 870-yard marathon distance in :45.31 while breaking from the disadvantageous outside post position in a race that starts with a run into the turn. He paid $8.60, $3.80 and $3.20 as the 3-1 third betting choice. Natural Task returned $3.20 and $2.80. Blue Ribbon Dash was another half-length back in third and paid $5.80. Friends Rare Form, who set the Lone Star Park track record for 870 yards while winning last year’s edition of the race, finished last.

Heza Marquette Maker, a gelded son of Invisible Injun out of the Marquetry mare Miss Marquetry, won for the seventh time in 15 starts. This was his second stakes win at Lone Star in November. On Nov. 4, he captured the $15,000 Grand Prairie Classic, an 870-yard race exclusive to 3-year-olds, by three lengths.

Saturday’s $11,800 first place check jumped the Texas-bred’s earnings to $48,512 for owner John Parma and trainer Rick Robinson.

Earlier on the program, there were two divisions of the $17,500 Mandolynn Hill Farm Stallion Stakes for Arabians. In the colts and geldings division, Mags Mad Max, owned by Sam Vasquez and trained by Mike Furr, rolled to a 7 ½-length triumph in track-record time for an Arabian at Lone Star. Under jockey Tad Leggett, the 5-year-old ran seven furlongs in 1:32.46, smashing Wibwilcca’s 1999 mark of 1:34.23. In the fillies and mares division, 8-year-old Viramika also posted a 7 ½-length score while stopping the teletimer in 1:34.27. Jeff Williams rode the winner for Greg Ketter and owner Lapco Arabians.