(Saturday, July 3, 2004) - Sam Houston Race Park leading rider J. R. Ramirez had a tough decision to make after he qualified seven 2-year-olds for the $134,748 TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2). He had narrowed his choice to two fillies, Maid It Special or Shake Em Fever and told trainer Dave Correll that he would ride Maid It Special.
Well, it was the "other" filly that won, but Ramirez had a smile on his face following the race. His brother, Saul, rode Shake Em Fever and Ramirez is a regular rider for the winning owners, Betty and Bob Moore and their son Bobby, who trained the winning filly.

Shake Em Fever was the third fastest qualifier in trials run on June 20. Tonight, she broke alertly and gained momentum with each stride, crossing the wire of the 350-yard stakes in :17.883. She defeated fastest qualifier, Azoom, by a nose and picked up a $47,167 paycheck for the Moore family from Temple, Texas.

"This is so exciting for us because she is our first futurity winner and first homebred that has done well,"said Betty Moore. "Bobby is a fabulous trainer; I'm going to give him credit. He's done really well with the older horses and now he's got his chance with the babies."

Rider Saul Ramirez, Jr. had probably gotten some good advice from younger brother, J. R., who had ridden the daughter of Royal Shake Em in her last two races.

"She was a little nervous in the gates and tried to flip, but when they said go, she was gone," said Ramirez. "I just kept riding because I knew that six horse was coming."

It was a welcome victory for trainer Bobby Moore, Jr., who is a very "hands on" trainer and believed that his filly had a lot of talent.

"I'd like to say how special the Ramirez family is to me," said Moore. "Saul rode the first winner I ever saddled and tonight he rode the first futurity winner for us. J.R., his little brother, are both incredible riders and I'm very blessed to have them riding for me. As far as the filly goes, we trained her Mama (Victory Fever) and she could really run.
Everybody who sees her says she looks just like 'Vic'; two peas in a pod."

Moore indicated that Shake Em Fever is paid into both the Dixie Stallion Stakes Futurity and Sam Houston Futurity, but is leaning toward the Sam Houston Futurity.

"After seeing her tonight, I think I'll be greedy and go for the bigger money."

Trainer Frank Cavazos saddled both the second and third place finishers in the TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity, Azoom and Asking Ashton.

"Azoom didn't act real good in the gates," commented Cavazos. "I think if he would've stood better in the gates, he would have won. He was a little anxious. I guess it just knocked this win out of him a little bit. He was catching him there at the end, but it just wasn't enough distance. He needed more yards. We'll run him in trials for the TQHA Sale Futurity (July 31) and probably the Sam Houston Futurity after that."

Cavazos was pleased with the third place finish of Asking Ashton, who was the seventh fastest qualifier in trials."I think he ran a real good race," said Cavazos. "I wish either of them would have won it. But that's the way it goes. You can't win all the time."

Maid it Special, who captured the $98,550 Ford Texas Juvenile Challenge on May 31, ran fourth.

"She got away a little late and that is hard to overcome in group like that," commented her trainer, Dave Correll. "She's in the Sam Houston Futurity and she gets a little rest now before we start getting her ready for that."

Shake Em Fever, sent off as the third betting choice, returned $15.00 for the win. Tootin O Toole, Winning Charisma, American Chickie, Gol TJKA, Miss Open Spirit and A Scandal completed the order of finish.

Splendid Sam Perry Captures the $52,280 TQHA Sires' Cup Derby

Splendid Sam Perry ($16.00), the second fastest qualifier in trials for the $52,280 TQHA Sires' Cup Derby, was a game winner in tonight's final. The sorrel gelding is owned by the S A Ranch of Edcouch, Texas and trained by Janie Hernandez. Rider Rodrigo Vallejo was aboard for his victory in trials on June 20 and guided his mount across the wire of the 400-yard stakes in a time of :20.079.

"He ran an exceptional race,"said Hernandez. "I was kind of worried about his back hock, but he pulled up well from his trial and ran very good for us tonight."

Sixy Thru Traffic ran second with J. R. Ramirez in the irons.

"My horse ran a good race," said Ramirez. "She had the fourth fastest time in the trials. She left real good and she slipped a little bit the second jump. I ran right up to her (winner, Splendid Sam Perry), but I just couldn't catch her."

Ima Perry Girl ran third. Fastest qualifier, I Make Em Shake ran fourth, followed by Open For Sure, Illegalize, Geeze, Cowboy Duncan, A Runaway Creek and Naturally Cute.

Imagine If Wins the TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity Consolation

Imagine If, owned by Joe Kirk Fulton and trained by William Jolley Howard, won the TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity Consolation. The daughter of Strawfly Special was flying late under Jose Alvarez and covered the 350-yards in a
time of :18.060.