(Friday, October 10, 2003)- On the eve of college football’s annual Red River Shootout between the universities of Texas and Oklahoma, Texas-bred Run And Pray out-dueled Cat B Quick by one length in the sixth annual $17,500 Red River Handicap at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Friday night’s stakes triumph, clocked in :44.96 for 870 yards, came before a crowd of 4,596.

Larry Payne, tacking 123 pounds, rode the winner for trainer John Buchanan and owner Bobby Cox of Fort Worth, Texas.

“Cat B Quick had me a little nervous, especially halfway through the turn, because he was leaning on us a little bit,” Payne said. “He put us in a little on tight along the fence and I thought that I better get on up there. I smooched at Run And Pray and eased right up to [Cat B Quick]. I thought [Cat B Quick] would give [the lead] up. I rode my whip over and hit him a couple of times and then he ran off of him. He ran a real nice race.”

Even though a Texas-bred won the race, Payne, a native Oklahoman, warned Longhorns fans about playing the number one-ranked Sooners on Saturday.

“Texas better pay attention because Oklahoma is coming to town,” Payne said.

Run And Pray, who paid $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second wagering choice, improved his record to five wins and earnings of $167,268 in 24 starts. The son of Invisible Injun has won his last two starts at the marathon distance of 870 yards. Two years ago, Run And Pray was the fastest qualifier to the Grade I Dash For Cash Futurity, but finished fourth in the final.

King Rick Rack, the 9-5 favorite in the field of seven older horses, finished third.