(Grand Prairie, Texas - April 23, 2011) - Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner’s Thiskyhasnolimit, trained by Steve Asmussen, fought determinedly through the stretch to win the 15th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile, for 3-year-olds and upward over a fast main track at Lone Star Park on Saturday. The 16,571 in attendance represented the fourth largest Texas Mile Day crowd in track history.

With Justin Shepherd aboard, who was released from the hospital on Friday night after being treated for a staph infection in his leg, and then given medical clearance to ride on Saturday, the bay son of Sky Mesa settled into ideal tracking position behind fractions of 24.28, 47.85, and 1:11.72. With early pacesetter Gladding in his sights at the top of the stretch, Thiskyhasnolimit dug in through the lane and outdueled that rival to prevail by a half-length. It was seven lengths back to Dreaminofthewin in third. The final time was 1:37.28.

“We had a perfect trip on the outside and I had plenty of horse to do whatever I wanted with,” said winning jockey Justin Shepherd.

In winning the Texas Mile, Thiskyhasnolimit improved his race record to five wins from 16 starts. The $125,000 winner’s share of the purse increased Thiskyhasnolimit’s earnings to $706,532.

Thiskyhasnolimit paid $4.80, $2.60, $2.40, runner-up Gladding returned $3.00, $2.60, and Dreaminofthewin paid $2.60 for show. Friesan Fire and Kate’s Main Man completed the order of finish.

Baltimore Bob Takes Grand Prairie Turf Challenge

Charles W. Fletcher’s Baltimore Bob, trained by Cody Autrey, was a convincing winner in the 15th running of the $50,000 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge, for 3-year-olds and upward, over a firm turf course on Saturday at Lone Star Park.

Ridden by Cliff Berry, the bay son of Malibu Moon enjoyed a comfortable trip while sitting just off of early leader Snow Drift through fractions of 24.76, 49.29, and 1:12.53. When asked to go after the leader at the top of the stretch, Baltimore Bob surged to the front and then held off a late bid from Alwayswithapproval who was three quarters of a length back at the finish. It was another head back to McKenna’s Justice in third. The one-mile trip was completed in 1:35.95.

In winning the Grand Prairie Turf Challenge, Baltimore Bob earned his eleventh win from 31 starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $367,265.

Baltimore Bob paid $3.40, $2.40, $2.20, runner-up Alwayswithapproval returned $8.40, $4.00, and McKenna’s Justice paid $5.00 for show. Deputiformer, Skip a Smile, Snow Drift and Lee’s Spirit completed the order of finish.

Sheer Beauty Takes Them the Distance in Irving Distaff

L T B Inc & Miles Childers’ Sheer Beauty, trained by Bernard Flint, led every step of the way in winning the 15th Running of the $50,000 Irving Distaff, for fillies and mares, three-years-old and upward, over a firm turf course at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

With Jon Court in the irons, the gray daughter of Mizzen Mast set the pace through fractions of 23.48, 47.32 and 1:10.33. With the field still in her rearview mirror at the top of the stretch, Sheer Beauty maintained her advantage to the finish before recording a 1 1/4-length victory over Slide On Bye. The Cat Who finished another half-length back in third. The final time for the 7 ½-furlong assignment was 1:28.47.

With the win, Sheer Beauty improved her career record to five wins from 11 starts, and the $30,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her earnings to $189,970.

Sheer Beauty paid $16.00, $7.00 and $5.20, Slide on Bye returned $3.20 and $2.60, and The Cat Who paid $6.00 for show. Pleasantly Blessed, Sugar Added, Skedee, Dixieland Baby, No Other Tone, Always in My Heart and Ava Mae completed the order of finish.