-photo by Sandra Beck/Coady Photography

-photo by Sandra Beck/Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (October 2, 2004) - My Victory Cup, ridden confidently by Danny Lavergne, won her second stakes of the 2004 Quarter Horse meeting tonight at Houston Race Park. The lone filly in the ten-horse field, My Victory Cup led gate-to-wire in the $21,000 Rio Grande Handicap.

The 4-year-old daughter of Toast to Dash is owned by J. Barton Crawford of Dale, Texas. He purchased her three years ago at the TQHA Yearling Sale for $3,200. She served notice that she was a distance horse to be reckoned with on May 22 when she won a $6,600 allowance race by ten lengths. After a second place finish in a starter allowance at Delta Downs on June 27, she returned to Sam Houston Race Park and has won her last four races including the $43,000 Governors’ Cup Marathon at 870-yards on September 9.

Trained by Roy Roberts, My Victory Cup led throughout the 1,000 yard Rio Grande, crossing the wire in :52.506, not too far off the track record of :52.24 set in 1995.

"Tonight was her best race by far," said Lavergne, currently the leading rider at Sam Houston Race Park. "She left the gate like she was going 250-yards and I had to restrain her. When we headed for home, I cocked my stick and hit her one time, she rebroke and it was all over. She’s just a nice filly."

"She’s something else," admitted Crawford. "I have to give the credit to my trainer, Roy, our jockey and all the people that helped us. We are pointing her to one more race her in about a month."

Jockey Gilbert Ortiz rode second-place finisher, Get Solid. Trained by Heath Taylor, Get Solid was the 2003 Sam Houston Race Park Distance Horse of the Meet.

"My horse ran a good race," said Ortiz. "I was told he was nervous in the paddock last time (his third place finish in the Governors’ Cup Marathon) when I was riding in New Mexico, but he was fine tonight, stood perfect, broke well and made his run. We weren’t going to catch that mare tonight - none of us were."

Packin Pearls shipped in tonight from Louisiana and ran third under Donald Watson.

"We had a pretty good trip," said Watson. "It was tough but he ran a really good race. We just got outrun tonight. The race stayed pretty much the same from the start between the 10 and the seven . My horse made up ground to get third and he made a big effort."

My Victory Cup, earned $12,600 for tonight’s effort and paid $4.60 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show as the post time favorite. The 10-7 exacta paid $12.20 and the trifecta returned $39.40. Glass of Cash ran fourth followed by Irish Leader, Toast to John, Joe Task, Sierra Hemp, Bl Reo and Stridin and Survivin.