(November 9, 2002)- A field of seven runners took to the John Connally Turf Course for the $30,000 Buffalo Bayou Stakes. Kris Havingfunnow, a 4-year-old colt, ridden by John Jacinto, took command at the top of the stretch and lived up to his name, crossing the wire of the 1 1/6 mile stakes in a time of 1:46.34.

Owned and bred by William G. Brown, of Florida, Kris Havingfunnow has proven his affinity for grass, winning the eighth turf race of his career this evening. Trained by Jernesto Torrez, Kris Havingfunnow did not finish in his last start at Retama Park, when the race was taken off the turf, and he did not take to the sloppy main track. Jacinto, the leading rider in the 2001/2002 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting, was in the irons for the first time. He had worked the handsome bay colt last Saturday and was confident of his chances tonight.

"He worked really well and I told Jernesto that I thought we had a good shot," said Jacinto. "I had a little trouble in the trip; the first turn was very tight. I had a lot of horse and when I asked him to go, he was very good."

Rasby, owned by Kristine and John Richter, ran second under Roman Chapa. Trained by Danny Pish, the 7-year-old son of Dynaformer, closed gamely, but could not catch the winner.

"He ran good," commented Chapa. "I kind of got into trouble at the 1/8th pole. I was on the rail and I had no where to go. There was a lot of traffic and the pace was a little slow tonight that is why we were so bunched up. I think I might have won, but I had to check him a couple of times; I wasn't able to let him go."

The Michael Stidham-trained Extra Check, owned by Three Kings Stable was heavily favored going into tonight’s racing program. The 3 year-old Kentucky-bred colt ran third in the grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park last July, but his first foray to Texas was not very much to his liking. The dark bay colt was sweating heavily in the paddock and rider Corey Lanerie tried to get him to settle, but he struggled throughout the race and finished last.

"He was aggressive at first and I wanted to get him off the bit a little," said Lanerie. "He came back to me but then wouldn't get back into the bridle. He's a nice horse and I think he has a good future."

Kris Havingfunnow, sent off at odds of 4-1, returned $11.20 to win, $5.40 to place and $5.00 to show. The 6-2 exacta paid $77.00 and the trifecta with Thunder Fish, trained by Mindy Willis, returned $503.20
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