Grand Prairie, Texas (Saturday, July 13 , 2024) - The Stars of Texas racing were out and shining bright Saturday afternoon at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. The nine race card featured three stakes restricted to accredited Texas-bred horses and a pair of Futurities for Texas Thoroughbred Association sales graduates.

$150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity (Colts & Geldings Division)

TThe day's stakes action began with a field of seven two-year-olds in the colts & geldings division of the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity. Ring Seeker, making his first start after winning the Staunch Avenger Division of the Texas Stallion Stakes by 10 1/4 lengths, kicked clear in deep stretch to grab his second stakes win in as many starts.

"I just wanted to get away as smoothly as possible. I've been getting on the horse in the mornings, and I knew he was more than capable. I just tried to be as smooth as possible and get to the wire first," jockey Erik Asmussen said after the race.

W.S. Farish owns the bay colt by Too Much Bling, who is conditioned by Steve Asmussen. Ring Seeker covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.32, crossing the finish line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the closest challenger.

Ring Seeker left the gate as the post-time favorite, returning $4.60 on a winning $2 wager.

$75,000 Valor Farm Stakes

Eight Texas-bred fillies and mares gathered to contest the six furlong $75,000 Valor Farm Stakes. Closing Act was quickly rushed to the front by jockey Erik Asmussen and held off heavy pressure by two challengers in deep stretch to get the victory by a neck.

The three-year-old filly by Munnings is now a two-time stakes winner at the meet, having won the first race of the season the $81,000 Bluebonnet Stakes back on April 18.

Closing Act left the gate at odds of 3-to-1 and stopped the clock in 1:11.73. The filly is trained by Steve Asmussen, and owned by Douglas Scharbauer.

$75,000 Assault Stakes

Mor Victory picked up his first stakes win after getting out to an early lead in a gate-to-wire victory in the $75,000 Assault Stakes, contested at one mile on the turf. The four-year-old gelding was ridden by Erik Asmussen, giving him his third stakes win of the day, and fourth on the Saturday card.

Mor Victory, trained by Jayde Gelner and owned by Norman Stables, LLC, cruised to a confident 4 1/4 length win as the post-time favorite.

$150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity (Fillies Division)

Trainer Jayde Gelner and owner Norman Stables, LLC made it back-to-back stakes wins on the day after Secret Faith captured the fillies division of the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity.

Jockey C.J. McMahon kept the filly off the pace before meticulously picking off rivals on the way to a 3/4-length win. "She'' just getting better. She's a nice filly ... has the pedigree to match. I think she has a huge future," McMahaon said after the race.

Trained Jayde Gelner was confident he had a Futurity winner in Secret Faith saying, "From the day we purchased her, this was our plan. We try to buy nice horses just for this spot right here."

Secret Faith covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.77 and returned $8 on a $2 win wager as the post-time favorite.

$75,000 Fiesta Mile

The day's action wrapped up with a thriller in the $75,000 Fiesta Mile as a field of 12 Texas-bred fillies and mares went one mile on the turf. Imaluckycharm, ridden by Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, set the pace and hit the top of the stretch three lengths ahead, but the lead would diminish as they approached the wire. It would take a photo to decide the winner, but in the end Imaluckycharm was able to hold off her stablemate, No Mas Tequila, for the win.

The five-year-old mare by My Golden Song is trained by Karen E. Jacks. After the race, she said, "She's just a monster. She's just a big strong girl. Her and her sister [No Mas Tequila] take turns winning."

Carl Moore, owner of Imaluckycharm, said, "I wasn't sure who won. Her sister was coming, and we were fading, and I really wasn't sure who won at the wire. They run against each other a lot, and Karen's done a great job with both of them. Iamaluckycharm has been phenomenal to us."

Imaluckycharm crossed the wire in 1:35.81 for the one mile race on the turf as the wagering favorite.

A total of $541,530 was wagered on the nine races, with 3,874 in attendance for the Saturday card. The 2024 Thoroughbred Racing Season at Lone Star Park will conclude Sunday, July 14. First post for the closing day card is at 1:35 p.m.

Photos are courtesy of Dustin Orona Photography