Houston, Texas (Saturday, February 27, 2016) - Tonight's Maxxam Racing Festival featured four stakes, highlighted by the running of the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup. A field of 11 was assembled for the mile and one-eighth main track event, and the winner was Tigertail Ranch's Mobile Bay.

This was the second stakes appearance here this meet as the four-year-old ran on the turf in the $200,000 Connally Turf Cup (Gr. IIIT) last month. Tonight, he returned to his preferred main track surface and distance and topped a very contentious field. Trained by Victor Arceneaux, the Louisiana-bred won the Zia Park Derby and closed for second in the Louisiana Classic at Fair Grounds.

Jockey Francisco Torres guided the dark bay colt, sitting off the early pace set by Coup De Grace. He began to close at the top of the stretch, crossing the wire in 1:50.35, winning by a neck over Jessica's Star.

"When you get these quality horses running for this money, you know they are going to show up," said Torres. "They set some fast fractions, but that set up well for us. He carried me all the way around and had plenty left. I had total confidence in him."

"Cisco gave him a great ride," said Arceneaux. "Whenever he started picking them up on the backside, I thought we would be in contention. He likes the mile and one-eighth distance, and we are very excited!"

Mark Breen's graded stakes winner Jessica's Star, made a very good comeback off a seven-month layoff for trainerMichael Stidham. The five-year-old son of Magna Graduate was scratched out of last Saturday's $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (Gr. III) and stayed close to the early pace under rider Mitchell Murrill. He was still prominent down the lane and held second.

"Mike Stidham is a great trainer and really had him ready," said Murrill. "We had a great trip and a good, successful run. We just got caught at the end."

Hawaakom ran third under Miguel Mena, with Coup De Grace holding on to complete the superfecta.

Mobile Bay paid $10.80 as the third betting choice. He earned $60,000 this evening, which sent his career earnings to $674,290.

The $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park has had a rich tradition since its first running in 1994. Past champions of the mile and one-eighth main track feature include Sir Cherokee, Reporting for Duty, Student Council, Alumni Hall, Cease, Unstoppable U and Red Rifle. Last year's Maxxam champion was Brereton Jones' homebred Albano.

Mexican Miss Notches First Stakes Win in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes

Trainer Joe Sharp made many trips to Sam Houston Race Park when he was Mike Maker's assistant. Tonight, he showed Sam Houston Race Park fans that he is a horseman with tremendous talent!

He shipped in Mexican Miss a five-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, and she topped a full field the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes. Owned by Brad Grady, she had been game in each of her starts in the Fair Grounds meet and made the most of her stakes debut in the mile and one-sixteenth Jersey Lilly.

Mitchell Murrill was the winning pilot, picking off horses and winning by a neck, in a final time of 1:43.75.

"When I came around the last turn, she just took off, like the nice mare she is," said Murrill.

Sharp felt his filly belonged in stakes company and was grateful to his owner for his patience.

"She showed that she was worth the wait," said Sharp. "Brad was very patient, and this was her first stakes win and deservedly so."

Cassatt, owned by Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Hill 'n Dale Equine Holdings, Inc., went to the early lead under replacement rider Adrian Ramos as Florent Geroux, who won two stakes this afternoon at Gulfstream Park, could not make the flight from Florida. She finished second but bore out against Expect Royalty and was disqualified and placed third.

Trainer Larry Jones had wanted to try the five-year-old daughter of Tapit on the turf. He was disappointed but hopefully will give the speedy mare another try on the lawn.

"It just wasn't meant to be," said Jones. "What can you do?"

Mexican Miss, sent off at odds of 10.90-1, returned $23.80 for the win. Multiple stakes winner Expect Royalty paid $18.00 as the runner-up, followed by Cassatt and Whiskey Eyes.

Trainer Joe Sharp Runs One-Two in the $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint

It was a very good night for trainer Joe Sharp, who saddled the winner and runner-up of the five-furlong $50,000 Bucharest Turf Sprint.

Newport Racing Stables LLC's American Sailor went to the lead under rider Miguel Mena and never looked back. Claimed for $30,000 at Fair Grounds, the four-year-old son of City Zip crossed the wire in :56.92.

This was the first time Mena rode the Kentucky-bred, who tuned up for this stakes with a four-length victory on February 7 at Fair Grounds.

"Joe told me that the horse was doing really well and to take advantage of his speed," said Mena. "That's what I did. I stayed out of his way; fast horses win races."

James Graham piloted El Botas for owner Brad Grady, finishing second by a neck. Sharp was proud of both stablemates.

"American Sailor is a fast horse, and when you get a horse from Brad (Cox), you know they are well taken care of," said Sharp. "He was pretty much lone speed in a five furlong turf race, which is hard to find. El Botas is another horse that was a great claim; he's a developing horse, and we'll find the right spot for him."

Meme Jo finished third under current leading Sam Houston rider Iram Diego, followed by Perfect to Please. Brilliant Interest and Billy Two Hats were early scratches.

American Sailor, sent off at 9-2, paid $11.40 to win. He earned $30,000 this evening, vaulting his career earnings to $130,990.

Two Step Time Game Winner of the $50,000 Texas Heritage Stakes

The final stakes of the evening was the $50,000 Texas Heritage Stakes. It attracted a field of ten three-year-olds to compete at the distance of one mile and one-sixteenth on the Connally Turf Course. This is the first year that the Texas Heritage Stakes has been run on the turf. It has been a springboard race for several notable three-year-olds, including Departing, who won in 2013 then added four graded stakes. Kip Deville captured the 2006 edition of the Texas Heritage Stakes before winning the 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr. IT) at Monmouth Park.

Tonight, another rising star, Two Step Time, showed he was a three-year-old with a bright future. Trainer Mike Maker shipped the son of Two Step Salsa from Florida in pursuit of his third lifetime win. Owned by Get Away Farm, the dark bay colt just missed in the $100,000 OBS Championship on January 26. With a well–timed ride from Robby Albarado, Two Step Time ($7.80) closed for the win, covering the mile and one-sixteenth feature in 1:43.90.

Albarado and Maker teamed up at Fair Grounds winning the Black Gold Stakes with Oscar Nominated.

"I was glad I didn't have to run them against each other," said Maker. "It was a good day!"

Albarado has a great track record at Sam Houston Race Park, winning four editions of the Maxxam Gold Cup and three victories in the Connally Turf Cup.

"This is such a nice turf course," said Albarado. "I always love riding here and was glad to get the win. Two Step Time has some learning to do, but ran very well tonight."

Longshot Berniestrike ran second, followed by Crescent Drive and Mending Fences.

Two Step Time will make his next start at Turfway Park, according to Maker.