(Houston, Texas - February 2, 2011) - Saturday's feature at Sam Houston Race Park is the $50,000 Jersey Lilly, a mile and one-sixteenth stakes over the Connally Turf Course. The draw took place on Wednesday, February 2 and attracted a competitive field of 11 fillies and mares.

Hisse, a 5-year-old daughter of Buddha, will make her Sam Houston debut for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and trainer Steve Asmussen. She has fared well on dirt and turf with her last stakes win on March 29 in the $60,000 Red Camelia at Fair Grounds. Quincy Hamilton will ride from post position six. Asmussen has a previous win in the Jersey Lilly with 2001 champion Euryanthe.

Trainer Richard Scherer will ship in Mizzcan'tbewrong from Fair Grounds for Last Call Racing Partnership. The daughter of Mizzen Mast is a seasoned turf specialist and will make her 16th start on the lawn in the Jersey Lilly under jockey Paul Nolan. She ran third on January 1 at Fair Grounds in the $60,000 Blushing K. D. Handicap, which was taken off the turf and run on a sloppy track.

Ice Mist is an up and coming filly trained by Bernie Flint.  The Maryland-bred daughter of Forest Danger out of the Cozzene mare Maryland Mist ran second in the Grade 3 Valley View on October 22 at Keeneland. Owned by Naveed Chowhan, Flint has given the call to Chris Landeros, who won the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup last Saturday.

Caloosahatchee will make her stakes debut for trainer Sarah Davidson and breeder/owner John E. Piehl, II. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly is named for a river on southwest Gulf Coast of Florida, but in the Davidson barn, her nickname is "Lucy".

"She ran in an open allowance last June at Lone Star right after her maiden score," said Davidson. "At Remington, she won and beat a nice field, including Kite Seeker (winner of the $50,000 San Jacinto Stakes on January 22). She's proven on turf and deserves a chance to run in this stakes."

Davidson has given the riding assignment to Sam Houston leading rider, Lindey Wade.

"He's worked her a couple of times and is really patient," added Davidson.

Davidson, 24, is the daughter of Brent and Colleen Davidson, who have been longtime supporters of Texas racing. Brent prefers to stay on the farm and tend to the 2-year-olds, while Sarah and Colleen manage their Sam Houston string. Sarah will saddle Calooshatchee, but will not hesitate to call her dad as the race approaches.

"He's taught me everything I know," acknowledges Davidson.

The complete field from the rail: Cherry Pink, Junior Chacalatana;, Blushing Dixie, Larry Taylor; War Tiger, Bobby Walker, Jr.; Ice Mist, Chris Landeros; Girlsfest, Alfredo Contreras; Hisse, Quincy Hamilton; Mizzcan'tbewrong, Paul Nolan; Caloosahatchee, Lindey Wade; Ruby's Big Band, Rohan Singh; Check My Halo Nau, Benny Landeros and Slide On Bye, Eguard Tejera.

The $50,000 Jersey Lilly will run as the ninth race of the Saturday evening card, with a post time of 10:26 p.m.

News and Notes

No live racing on Sunday

There will be no live racing on Sunday, February 6, but Sam Houston Race Park will be open for simulcasting. Post times for this weekend's live racing schedule are Friday and Saturday (7 p.m.), and Monday (1:20 p.m.). The 2011 Thoroughbred meet continues through Monday, March 7th. Live American Quarter Horse racing will start on Friday, March 11th and run through Sunday, May 15th with races every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For the full calendar of Sam Houston Race Park’s 2011 live race dates, visit www.shrp.com. Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 19 luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Champion Energy Services Jockey Club. Sam Houston Race Park Platinum Partners include Bud Light, Verizon Wireless and Champion Energy Services. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.

Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

Lindey Wade continues to lead in the jockey standings at Sam Houston Race Park with 12 wins from 52 starts. He remains in a competitive battle with Quincy Hamilton, who has made 10 trips to the winner’s circle. Eguard Tejera is third with eight wins and Chris Landeros moved into fourth place in the standings with seven victories. Larry Taylor rounds out the top five with six wins. Hamilton and Taylor are former leading riders at Sam Houston; this is the first time Wade has ridden on the Texas circuit.

Karl Broberg, who shared leading trainer honors with Danny Pish last year at Sam Houston, is in sole possession of first place as nine of his 40 starters have won through the first two weeks of the meet. Pish is second with five wins and Eleuterio Martinez, Jr. is third with four victories. Three trainers are tied with three wins each:  Cash Asmussen, Joe Offolter and Michael Whitelaw.

In the owner standings, Janie McCright is the leader with three wins. End Zone Athletics, Eleuterio Martinez, Jr, Anjo Racing, Inc., Charles Hukill and Benjamin Gonzalez, Sam Guarino and David Ramold are tied for second with two wins each.

Schramsberg Exits $200,000 Connally Turf Cup in Great Shape

Schramsberg, who won the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Turf Cup last Saturday, January 29at Sam Houston Race Park, exited the race in good order, according to his trainer, Chris Hartman.

"He came out of the race in perfect condition," reported Hartman. "We vanned him back to our home base at Sunland Park on Sunday morning and he is doing very well."

The race produced a trio of firsts in graded stakes wins. Schramsberg gave Hartman, owner Bobby Joe Hammer of Elmore City, Oklahoma and rider Chris Landeros their first graded stakes victories.

Hammer was hoping to come to Houston to see his 5-year-old Kentucky bred run, but he was battling the flu and was not up to making the trip. Hartman spoke with his owner after the race and said the win "lifted his spirits" considerably.

Landeros, 22, was born in San Mateo, California, and headed to Texas last year. He won the riding title at Lone Star Park with 97 wins, but the Connally Turf Cup was the first graded stakes of his career.

"It was a very special win; one I will never forget," said Landeros. "I had never ridden him, but watched his races. I knew if I could get him to relax that he would run well. The race set up so good for him."

The meet may have started a bit slow for the young rider, but winning a Grade 3 is a tremendous confidence booster. Landeros added a win and two second-place finishes on Sunday and scored back-to-back wins on the Monday afternoon card. The solid weekend put him within five wins of his good friend, Lindey Wade.

"This is a great jockey colony," commented Landeros. "Lindey and Quincy are good friends and I am happy to be riding against them."