(Sunday, August 18, 2002) - American Quarter Horses squared off this evening in tonight's feature race at Sam Houston Race Park, the $19,800 Rio Grande Handicap. The winner was Streakin Carl, a 6-year-old son of Streankin La Jolla who upset the rest of the field in the challenging 1000 yard race.

Owned by David Vance and trained by Danny Eldridge, the runner was making the 28th start of his racing career. Jockey Alvin Brossette rode this sorrel horse for the first time and had the winning mount.

"It was a picture perfect race," said Brossette. "When I called on him, he went by pretty easy." "I only had him about two weeks," comments Eldridge. "He was training great and we felt like he wanted more distance. I'll talk with his owner and we'll decide whether to go in the Governor's Cup in a couple of weeks."

Streakin Carl broke from the forth position and hung back while early pacesetters I Saw Elvis and In Time To Dash dueled in the early stages of the race. I Saw Elvis, the beaten favorite finished forth under rider Gilbert Ortiz. "He didn't run his best today," states Ortiz. "I still got to give him a lot of credit because of how old he is and still running with these kind of horses."

The 10-year-old gelding was the returning champion. Irish Leader, the 6-year-old gelding is owned by C. L. & A. Barrera & A. Martinez, Jr and trained by Emilio Barrera, ran second under rider Isaac Chapa. Windville, owned by Wanda Pennington and trained by J. Penny Bennington was ridden by Mark Page finished third. The 10-year-old son of Flying Granville finished second in last years Rio Grande Handicap.

"He was a little difficult at first, then settled down," Page stated. "They opened the rail for me and I asked him and he just dug in and ran hard. He needed the out and will probably run back in the Governor's Cup."

Streakin Carl paid $13.60 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.80 to show. The 4-8 exacta returned $57.00 and the 4-8-3 trifecta paid $394.80.