(November 23, 2002)- Miss Listo made short work of her five rivals in tonight’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park, the $30,000 Miss Houston Stakes. Owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, the 2-year-old filly won her third race of the year and the first stakes of her career tonight. Ridden by jockey Glen Murphy, the Kentucky-bred filly caught Race To Glory at the eighth-pole and drew clear, completing the seven furlong contest in a time of 1:25.70.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Miss Listo shipped to Texas following five races on the Kentucky circuit, including a sixth place finish in the $100,000 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. The daughter of Southern Halo earned $18,000 for tonight’s victory, boosting her career earnings to $72,484.

"She had a nice trip and relaxed really well," said Murphy. "I was in a good position and just had to wait until she turned for home and let her do her running. Steve and Shawn (assistant trainer, Shawn Talbot) brought this horse up really nice and I’m just happy to be able to get a chance to ride her."

"She’s been training well," commented Talbot. "She’s a small 900 pound filly that’s an overachiever. She was very wide on the outside, but dug back in and finished the race very well."

Race To Glory ran second under rider Roman Chapa. Trainer Michael Stidham shipped the daughter of Honour and Glory in from Arlington for owner Barry Golden. She had captured the lead but at the top of the stretch Miss Listo mounted her attack and Race To Glory could not hold her off.

"The filly ran good," said Chapa. "I wanted to hold her back more, but [Honey Rascal] was putting pressure on us. So she wasn't wanting to relax. She got out in the lane and tried to run, but she just got a little flat in the end. She’s run good races so far."

Trainer Paul Murphy had enough confidence in first-time starter Mexican Moonlight to enter her in the Miss Houston Stakes. She was ridden to a fourth-place finish by rider Don Simington.

"She was in a little tight on the turn and couldn't really extend herself," commented Murphy. "I want to send her two turns on dirt (probably at Fair Grounds) a time or two before I try her on grass."

Sent off at odds of 2-1, Miss Listo paid $6.00, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board. The 1-2 exacta returned $8.20 and No Betta Cat completed the $25.60 trifecta. Entrymate Lady Tak was scratched.

Talbot indicated that the Asmussen barn will be hopping in the next two weeks, as they will saddle several notable contenders for the NTRA Great State Challenge. Posse, a Silver Deputy colt also owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, will ship in from Kentucky for the $275,000 Great State Challenge Juvenile. He broke his maiden last April at Keeneland, drawing off to a 13 length win. Asmussen will also ship Easyfromthegitgo in for the $275,000 Great State Challenge Classic. The 3-year-old colt has earned $668,830 for owners James Cassels and Bob Zollars and ran in the 2002 Preakness Stakes last May. The other Asmussen Great State Challenge stakes entrants include Hannah’s Royalrock in the $275,000 Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies for owner Keith Asmussen and Desert Darby, owned by Ken Quirk, in the $275,000 Great State Challenge Turf.