Houston, Texas (December 20, 2003) - Savorthetime, trained by Al Stall, Jr., presented owners Brenda and Philip Robertson of Grandview, Texas, with an early Christmas present this evening at Sam Houston Race Park. The 4-year-old filly gamely defeated a field of seven fillies and mares in tonight’s feature, the $35,000 San Felipe Stakes.

The Kentucky-bred filly was ridden to victory by Curt Bouque. He settled her off the pace and was content to track Eternal Cup through the first half-mile. Bourque called on her at the top of the stretch and she rallied past Eternal Cup and drew off by 1 ¾ lengths, covering six-furlongs on a fast track in a final time of 1:09.57.

"She’s a nice mare and makes me look good," said Bourque. "She left the gate running and put me in a spot to win. I just aimed her and was just a pilot. She did everything I asked of her. She’s special to me because I’ve won six on her. She will win just about everywhere; she broke her maiden at Lone Star and won two at Arlington Park as well."

Eternal Cup from the barn of Steve Asmussen ran second. The 3-year-old daughter of Montbrook has been running in stakes company in Texas and Louisiana. Rider Lonnie Meche flew in from the Fair Grounds to ride. Asmussen had the starting gate crew place a blanket on her hindquarters when they loaded her into the gate.

"She was scratched at the gate in the race before I got her," said Asmussen. "We put it on her in the first race she ran for us and we aren’t going to take it off now! She ran a good race and was outrun by an outstanding filly."

Miss Mary Apples , shipped in from Kentucky and ran third. Trained by Mark Hubley, the 3-year-old daughter of Clever Trick was ridden tonight by Kerwin Clark.

"I thought she did great," said Clark. "I mean they ran 1:09 and some change; those are two nice fillies that ran in front of her. She ran as fast as she could. But she couldn't run fast enough tonight."

Savorthetime returned $4.00, $2.60 and $2.40 across the board. Completing the order of finish were Pine Thymeprincess, Sarastorm, Roxaedit and Miss Photogenic.

Robertson indicated that Savorthetime would make her next start at the Fair Grounds and possibly return to Sam Houston Race Park on January 17 for the running of the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff.