Grand Prairie, Texas (Monday, May 25, 2009) - John A Chandler’s Seaspeak, trained by Ralph Nicks, never had an anxious moment in capturing the Grade 3, $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup over a firm turf course at Lone Star Park on Monday.

Ridden by Julian Leparoux, the bay son of Mizzen Mast tracked early leader Tricky Causeway through slow early fractions of :25.36, :50.41. Seaspeak moved to the lead around the far turn, and when Ernesto attempted to challenge him approaching the stretch, Seaspeak showed his quality by running off to an easy 4 ¾-lengths victory. The final time for the 1 1/8-miles journey was 1:48.23. Ernesto stayed on for place with Red Rock Creek another 2 ¾ lengths back in third.

“We were going very slow early on,” said winning rider Julian Leparoux. “He was going very easy and I just let him relax up front down the backstretch. And obviously, he finished very strong too.”

“He’s been handled very properly all along,” added winning trainer Ralph Nicks. “We’ve given him time when he’s needed it. He’s a very talented horse and hopefully this is the start of a good year.”

In winning the Dallas Turf Cup, Seaspeak earned his first graded stakes victory and recorded his third victory from eight career starts. The $120,000 winner’s share of the purse increased Church Service’s lifetime earnings to $243,828.

Seaspeak paid $2.60, $2.10, $2.10, runner-up Ernesto returned $4.20, $2.80, and Red Rock Creek paid $2.40 for show. Overbid, Precious Colony, and Tricky Causeway completed the order of finish.