(August 19, 2006) - It was another winning night for trainer Judd Kearl and rider James Brooks at Sam Houston Race Park. The potent leading rider and trainer scored with Winners Award in the $15,200 TQHA Sires’ Cup Stakes, tonight’s feature. The 4-year-old colt is bred and owned by Jerry Windham of College Station and for the second night in a row, Kearl/ Brooks supporters were rewarded handsomely at the betting windows as Winners Award paid $60.60 for the victory.

Three inches of rain fell this afternoon in northwest Houston, but the track condition was upgraded to good for the running of the eighth race. The race was delayed slightly as Sixy Thru Traffic broke through the starting gate, but was caught by the outrider and reloaded. Winners Award, a son of Runaway Winner, stood calmly in the gate, had a clean trip and completed the 400-yard stakes in a final time of :19.908.

“I’ve only had him for his last two starts,” said Kearl. “He got away clean tonight and that was the difference.”

Kearl and his first-call rider, Brooks, are leading in the trainer/jockey standings at Sam Houston Race Park and enjoyed a victory last night with Streakin Lt ($22.20) in the $15,250 Harrisburg Stakes.

“He’s on top of his game,” acknowledged Kearl of Brooks, who celebrated his 55th birthday on June 24.

Sent off at 29-1, Winners Award was largely overlooked as Flor de Lirio, a 4-year-old filly owned by Zeferino T. Garcia, was sent off the favorite with back to back stakes wins this meet at Sam Houston Race Park. Claimed for $7,500, the talented filly has blossomed this year for trainer Janie Hernandez, winning the $13,500 Harris County Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on June 24 and returning to the winner’s circle in the $45,250 TQHA Classic Stakes on July 28. Armando Andrade rode her this evening to a third-place finish.

“She didn’t break good because it took so long for the guys to open the gate for the delay that we had,” commented Andrade. “Before the break she was ready to go twice. I thought she’d gotten up for second place, but she just got caught at the finish line.”

Quick Kisses ran second for trainer Janet Van Bebber, who won this stakes last year with Streakin Sin Tacha. Next came Flor de Lirio followed by Phoebes Otoole, Speedy Perry, Jess Braggin, Landry and Sixy Thru Traffic. The 2-8 exacta returned $333.60 and the 2-8-3 trifecta paid $1,172.