(Saturday, November 1, 2003) - Geral Dewitt’s The Jovial collected his fifth win over Lone Star Park’s main track with a convincing 1 ¼-length victory over Jaffas in the fourth running of the $20,000 JEH Stallion Station Handicap on Saturday night at the Grand Prairie, Texas racetrack. The Blazin Man finished third.

In front of 5,746 fans, The Jovial ran 550 yards in :27.09 to collect his 11th win in 50 career starts. It was his first stakes win at Lone Star Park. Roy Baldillez, tacking 120 pounds, rode the winner for trainer Anthony Arey, Dewitt’s stepson.

“This horse has been kind of up and down,” Arey said of the 7-year-old California-bred gelding. “The older horses get a lot of problems, and sometimes they have their day.”

The Jovial, who paid $16.80 to win as the 7-1 fourth betting choice in the field of 10 older horses, earned $11,000 Saturday and pushed his career bankroll over the hundred grand mark to $106,192.

“He warmed up good and did everything right,” Baldillez said. “I give all the credit to Anthony and his crew. They’ve done a super job with him…he left good and the way he had his ears pinned, I knew they’d have heck catching him.”

Behind the top three runners were Fast Man Rebel, A Glint Of Gold, Alabama Schoolboy, Let The Straw Fly, favorite Egos Comet, Dashin Rio Doc and The Queens Charger.

Four other stakes were on Saturday’s program. Ricardo Vallejo’s Shake Em White ($ 22.60) sprinted 100 yards in :06.52 to win the $15,000 Gridiron Gallop – the shortest horse race in the world – by a head over The Cheetah. Manuel Garcia rode the winner for trainer James Harris.

Eye Of The Bear ($21.80), ridden by Nicky Wilson, out-kicked Kick This by a neck to win the Olympia Joe Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Handicap for owner Jay Yeager and trainer Eddie Willis. Four-time race winner Dashers Moon Bar settled for third as the 3-2 favorite.

Trainer Jerenesto Torrez and jockey Adrian Ramos swept the Grade 1 Arabian Stakes, as Ontario HF ($3.60) won the $15,000 Oilman’s Arabian Cup by a neck over Darwinn and Royale Fanfare ($3.40) cruised to a 6 ¾-length triumph over First Ladie in the $15,000 KA Czubathan/Mandolynn Hill Farm Arabian Distaff Cup Handicap.

Wagering on Lone Star Park’s 12-race program by on and off-track patrons totaled $1,196,430, which ranked seventh all-time in Fall Meeting of Champions history. The off-track handle of $948,813 ranked fourth all-time in the fall.