(Saturday, July 26, 2008) - Sam Houston Race Park ended an exciting weekend of activity and live racing events with the $418.984 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1), along with two additional stakes races, as part of the evening’s 10-race card, on Saturday, July 26.

Jodys Money Pop ($12.80), who was the morning line second favorite behind frontrunner Show Me Your Toole, broke out of the starting gate on top with a strong drive and maintained a convincing lead for the duration of the 350-yard race. The two-year-old colt crossed the wire in a final time of :17.786.

“This was a competitive field of horses,” said 20-year old trainer Trey Wood. “This horse was the eighth fastest qualifier overall. It took some pressure off of us because not everyone’s eyes were on us tonight. We’re so happy to get this colt a win.”

Jockey Ricky Ramirez, who didn’t ride the colt in the qualifying trial race at The Park but has been aboard him for several other races, stated, “This horse is a more experienced horse and just gets better and better after each race. This horse just has a big heart, and he is just a runner.”

Ramirez holds the title of current leading Quarter Horse jockey of the 2008 meeting at Ruidoso Downs.

Owners Jim and Dina Pitts, from Burkburnett, Texas, were on-hand to watch their horse claim top honors. The couple picked the colt out at the 2007 TQHA Yearling Sale and purchased him for $18,000. Mr. Pitts was beaming with pride and excitement, stating, “We’re so happy to get in the finals. We knew the little colt would do good. He broke on top and pretty much dominated the whole race.”

The Pitts have raised and raced a lot of horses, winning a fair share of purses at Ruidoso Downs. Pitts went on to say, “This is the second little horse we’ve had with the heart and guts that he has. He’s not always going to be up front, but man those horses will know they’ve been in a race! He’s tough-minded. He’s easy to train and easy to handle.”

The Pitts and trainer Trey Wood plan to take Jodys Money Pop and race him at Lone Star Park in Dallas following tonight’s win.

The official order of finish for the race was Jodys Money Pop first, Show Me Your Toole in second, and Royally Streak in third in the nine-horse field.

The TQHA trial races took place on July 11 at The Park and, with Show Me Your Toole clocking in as the fastest qualifier with a final time of :18.037. The field of nine competitors for the final witnessed Show Me Your Toole as the 5-2 morning line odds favorite, with Jodys Money Pop (4-1) as the second favored horse in the race.

NOTES FROM THE PARK

$8,000 Gulf Coast Paint & Appaloosa Derby
Jubious Illusion (3-year-old colt)
:18.36 winning time
Jockey: Modesto Pina; Trainer: Guy Hopkins; Owner: Linda Jo and James C. Whitener
3rd Race; Field of 6 horses; 350 yards; $4.60; Speed 78 mph

A sorrel colt, Jubious Illusion is a Texas-bred by Streakin Sixes out of Three Ohs Dondi, by Heza Three Ohs. The three-year-old colt broke well and gave a strong drive.

Final order of finish: Jubious Illusion won by three-quarters of a length over Savonas Beauty, that crossed the wire one length ahead of third place finisher Action Figure.

$9,000 La Perla Paint & Appaloosa Derby
Brown Sugar Treasured (2-year-old filly)
:18.377 winning time
Jockey: Rodrigo Vallejo; Trainer: Bobby Touchet; Owner: Jerry Neil Leavell
9th Race; Field of 8 horses; 350 yards; Speed 77 mph

A bay filly, Brown Sugar Treasured is a Texas-bred by Rebel Style out of Treasured Go Go, by Treasured Too. The two-year-old filly broke away alertly and drew off.

The final order of finish saw Brown Sugar Treasured win convincingly by two lengths over Raise Beduino. Judys Treasure Chick finished third.

The weekend will culminate with the day-long Rockstar Energy Mayhem Tour at The Showgrounds (www.theshowgrounds.com) on Sunday, July 27. The inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem Tour, expected to be one of the largest concert events at The Showgrounds this summer, will showcase more than 10 heavy metal and rock acts including headliners Slipknot and Disturbed.

$25,000-added TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby Trials
Trials: Saturday, July 26, 2008
Final: Saturday, August 9, 2008
3-year-olds 400 yards

*Track Record for 400 Yards: Azoom :19.574- September 24, 2004