Grand Prairie, Texas (Saturday, July 11, 2009) - Big Texas Daddy, owned by Ackerley Brothers Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen, was a sharp winner in the five-and-a-half furlong, $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes (Staunch Avenger Division) for two-year-old colts and geldings over the main track at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

In winning the Texas Stallion Stakes (Staunch Avenger Division), Big Texas Daddy gave Asmussen his third victory in the eight runnings of the Texas Stallion Stakes (Staunch Avenger Division). The win was Asmussen’s 99th of the 2009 Lone Star Park meeting, surpassing the previous single season record of 98 wins set by Cole Norman in 2003.

Ridden by Justin Shepherd, Big Texas Daddy, who was bumped just after breaking out of post-position one, was unfazed by the early contact and settled in nicely just behind a three-way pace dispute for the early lead. After tracking dueling leaders through fractions of 21.95 and 45.63, the bay son of Valid Expectations built momentum approaching the stretch and swept past his rivals to take the lead for good at the top of the stretch. He then withstood late resistance from a determined runner-up in Western Forum, who finished ¾-length back in second. It was another 7 ¼-lengths back to Range War in third. The final time for the five-and-half furlongs was 1:03.70.

“He settled in nicely behind horses early on and when I asked him to go he had plenty in the tank,” said winning rider Cliff Berry. “It’s nice to get a record win like this with a son of Valid Expectations, he’s the one that got it all started for us. This is a very nice racehorse and it all came together extremely well today.”

With the win, Big Texas Daddy improved his record to two wins from two starts and increased his career earnings to $88,680.

Big Texas Daddy paid $5.20, $3.00, $2.20, runner-up Western Forum returned $3.80, $2.40, and Range War paid $2.10 for show. Fast Serve, Coyote Legend, City Champ, Illusive Hunt, Early Dancer, Hunting the Wire, and Special Red Bird completed the order of finish.

Asmussen Makes It a Stakes Double in Texas Stallion Stakes (Pan Zareta Division)

In the Pan Zareta Division of the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes for two-year-old fillies, Millenium Farms’ Camille’s Appeal, trained by Steve Asmussen, was a convincing winner with Justin Shepherd aboard. In his return to Lone Star Park, Shepherd also guided Big Texas Daddy to victory for Asmussen in the colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes earlier in the day on his way to winning five races on the 10-race program.

Camille’s Appeal, a bay daughter of Valid Expectations, rated at the back of the pack behind early fractions of :21.57 and 44.66. She rolled up outside of horses around the turn to place herself within striking range and produced a strong stretch run to win going away by 2 ¼ lengths. The final time for the five-and-a-half furlong assignment was 1:03.98.

“They were going pretty quick in front of her and, when I asked her, she gave me all that she had. All I had to do was steer,” said winning rider Justin Shepherd.

“The Texas Stallion Stakes is very important to the state and the breeders here. To have success on a day like this is very good.” added winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “Mike Stidham had this filly for Ro Parra who had purchased her recently. He did all the preparation with her and she’s a very nice filly.”

Camille’s Appeal improved her record to two-for-two while increasing her earnings to $89,400.

Camille’s Appeal paid $11.40, $7.00, $5.40, runner-up Daphne Angela returned $12.20, $7.80, and Bud’s Little Edge paid $8.00 for show. Minacious, Sweetsweetramona, Miss Pepper, Tin Top Cat, Maymeister, Legendary Day, Misty Visions, Flying Native, and Playatrick completed the order of finish.