Grand Prairie, Texas (July 9, 2011) - Sword Trick, owned by Clarence Scharbauer Jr., and trained by Bret Calhoun, was an authoritative winner in the 10th running of the $100,000, 5 1/2-furlong Texas Stallion Stakes (Staunch Avenger Division) for two-year-old colts and geldings, over a fast main track at Lone Star Park Saturday.

Ridden by Cliff Berry, the bay son of Early Flyer was a little flat-footed out of the gate. However, he quickly sprinted to the front and opened up a clear early advantage to lead through fractions of 22.60 and 46.04. Sword Trick steadily improved his lead through the stretch before recording an 8 1/2 lengths victory. The final time was 1:04.55. Boca Bay finished second, and it was 2 1/2 lengths back to Swass Like Me in third.

“I worked him last week and he worked really well from the gate, so I felt like he was ready to run,” said winning rider Cliff Berry. “He didn’t break slow, but not as quick as I wanted, but when I pushed him he cleared. He just opened up on them through the stretch.”

Sword Trick gave trainer Bret Calhoun his fourth win in the Texas Stallion Stakes (Staunch Avenger Division). Be a Resident (2006), Gold Coyote (2007), and Early Final (2008).

With the win, Sword Trick improved his record to two wins from two starts and increased his career earnings to $73,800.

Sword Trick paid $3.60, $2.20, $2.10, runner-up Boca Bay returned $2.40, $2.20, and Swass Like Me paid $2.60 for show. Field Goal, Coyote Canyon, Jones Way, Statler, Primistalla, and Jones Focus completed the order of finish.

Miss Lederhosen Battles Her Way to Victory in Texas Stallion Stakes (Pan Zareta Division)

In the 10th running of the Pan Zareta Division of the $100,000 Texas Stallion Stakes, for two-year-old fillies, Littlebrother Farm LLC’s Miss Lederhosen, trained by Steve Asmussen, was a narrow winner over the Bret Calhoun-trained Nothinbettertodo.

With Gerard Melancon aboard, the bay daughter of Valid Expectations was alert from the gate and settled into favorable racing position just off of the early leaders through fractions of 22.25 and 46.24. In striking range with a quarter mile to run, Miss Lederhosen mounted a stretch-long bid to wear down post time favorite Nothinbettertodo. The final time for the 5 1/2-furlong distance over a fast main track was 1:05.70. Nothinbettertodo was a head behind in second, and Im a Bear was another length back in third.

“She broke really sharp. As a matter of fact, I think she out-broke everything,” said winning rider Gerard Melancon. “I just let her do her thing.”

Added winning trainer Steve Asmussen, “She kind of dropped the bridle around the turn and lost a little position, but finished up and showed some run. It’s a very big win for us with her being a daughter of Valid Expectations, Lee Ackerley owned him and that was kind of the horse that got us rolling, so it’s always a very special to win with a foal of Valid Expectations.”

In winning the Texas Stallion Stakes (Pan Zareta Division), Miss Lederhosen recorded her first career win in her second start and increased her earnings to $62,530.

Asmussen has now won the Pan Zareta Division of the Texas Stallion stakes a record six times. His other winners include: Tiffany Jennifer (2002), Berdelia (2004), Valid Lilly (2007), Camille’s Appeal (2009) and Fastation (2010).

Miss Lederhosen paid $20.80, $6.80, $4.00, runner-up Nothinbettertodo returned $2.40, $2.10, and Im a Bear paid $3.20 for show. Positive Spin, Gone Kitty, Saras Play, Kimbell’s Bling and Sierra Wild completed the order of finish.

Skip a Smile Gets Lydia in Last Steps to Win Asault

Rose Mary Chandler’s Skip a Smile, trained by Steve Asmussen, proved best in the 14th running of the $75,000 Assault Stakes, for Texas-bred 3-year-olds and upward, over a fast main track Saturday.

With Luis Quinonez in the irons, the bay son of Skip Away settled in nicely toward the back of the pack behind opening fractions of 24:41 and 49:16. With a lot of work to do after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.65, Skip a Smile angled out around rivals toward the middle of the track and rallied to victory. Lydia’s Last Step, who set the pace, switched to her left lead with a sixteenth of a mile to run and finished a half-length back in second, it was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Coyote Legend in third. The final time for the 1 1/16-miles distance was 1:38.86.

"I knew we’d be coming from behind, that’s the way he runs,” said winning rider Luis Quinonez. “I was able to save ground early and when I moved him out at the top of the stretch he responded.”

With the win, Skip a Smile improved his career record to four wins from 13 starts, and with the $45,000 winner’s share of the purse, increased his lifetime earnings to $161,200.

Skip a Smile paid $9.20, $4.20 and $2.60, Lydia’s Last Step returned $3.40 and $2.60, and Coyote Legend returned $2.40 to show. Safe Range, Dixieland Baby, Halifax Flyer, Dandy’s Legacy, Cool Hand Val, and Cool’s Phire completed the order of finish.

Valor Farm Stakes Goes to Joy's Paradise

H. L. Southard’s Joy’s Paradise, trained by Karl Broberg, dug in gamely through the stretch to win the 14th running of the six-furlong $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes for Texas-bred fillies, 3-year-olds and up, over a fast main track at Lone Star Park Saturday.

With Cliff Berry astride, the four-year-old bay daughter of Taste of Paradise set the early pace through fractions of 22.62 and 45.51. Pressured relentlessly by She’s a Bond Girl, who ran second at every point-of-call, Joy’s Paradise held that rival at bay before reporting home a three-quarters of a length winner. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Zippy Wager in third.

“We were hoping to get out good and take no dirt, and she got out good,” said winning rider Cliff Berry. “She dug in deep through the stretch and ran great.”

With the victory, Joy’s Paradise improved her career record to eight wins from 25 starts, and with the $30,000 winner’s share of the purse, she increased her lifetime earnings to $193,345.

Joy’s Paradise paid $10.40, $5.20 and $3.60; She’s a Bond Girl returned $5.80 and $4.60, and Zippy Wager paid $9.20 to show. Tin Top Cat, Dixie Dust, Queenland, Berry Valid, Classic Detonation, All Time and Playgirl Prospect completed the order of finish.