| Notes and Quotes from Texas Champions
Day at Sam Houston Race Park Houston, Texas (November
19, 2005) - Below are notes and quotes from Texas Champions
Day at Sam Houston Race Park:
Expectant Diva Rallies to Capture $50,000 Yellow Rose
Stakes
The $50,000 Yellow Rose Stakes, a six-furlong contest, attracted
a field of nine fillies and mares. Expectant Diva came off the pace
to capture the stakes win for trainer Randy Mayfield and owner Virginia
Elder. Bobby Walker, Jr. had the winning mount. Winning time was
1:11.528
Comments From Winning Jockey, Bobby Walker, Jr.:
“I was fortunate to have enough horse to finish up and catch
her. Bones (Mayfield) had her ready to run. The other day when I
rode her, she didn’t have to be asked. Tonight she was in
good shape and I was fortunate to be on the best horse.”
Comments From Winning Trainer, Randy Mayfield:
“Bobby and I talked about the pace. We decided to take her
back and make one run and it all worked out. He put a heck of a
ride on her.”
Comments from Larry Taylor, rider of second place finisher
and beaten favorite, Shannons Valentine:
“She ran her race but she just got beat. She has had good
works and she gave everything she had.”
Comments from Andy Konkoly, trainer of Shannons Valentine:
She ran good and I’m happy with her. We are going to keep
her here and give her a few good starts here. She’s a good
horse and she always tries her hardest.”
Comment from Carl Woodley on third place finisher, Dodd:
"It wasn't the best of trips because we were stuck down on
the inside. She doesn't have a lot of speed, so I had to pick my
way through. Everything eventually opened up, but I had to be patient
and wait."
Guacamole Dips into the Winner’s Circle in $50,000
Groovy Stakes
The $50,000 Groovy Stakes, a seven-furlong contest, attracted a
field of 11 runners. Guacamole, owned by Dennis Foster and Rawley
Ralls of Lexington Kentucky, made a big run and won by two and one-fourths
lengths. Don Simington was at the controls for trainer Danny Pish.
Winning time was 1:24.566
Comments From Winning Jockey Don Simington:
"Praise God that everything worked out tonight. Last time the
race set up similar and I got behind a wall of horses. Tonight,
He exploded when he got the room."
Comments From Winning Trainer Danny Pish:
"I have to agree with Don - the trip and his maturity made
the difference. His ability to race several times as a 2-year-old
and stay sound.”
Comments from Deirdre Panas, rider of second place finisher,
Minstrel Runner:
“I was a little worried because he had his head up looking
around. I had to get him motivated going into the small opening
we had. We just got outrun. I knew Don (Simington) had a lot of
horse left when we were on the backside, so I figured I better try
to get into that hole while I could. That just shows much of the
best the winner was.”
Comments from Luis Quinonez, rider of Upstream, beaten
favorite:
"We had a good trip. We tried to use his speed to get up close,
and he did. It felt, down the lane, that he was still trying, but
they just ran by him. He had a good trip. He played with them, but
we play to win and we didn't do it this time."
$50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes Goes to Red Bird’s
Meister
The $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes, a six-furlong contest, attracted
a field of 11, including defending champion Charming Socialite.
Charming Socialite finished third to winner Red Bird’s Meister.
Michelle Lovell trains the 4-year-old stakes winner for Red Bird
Farms, Inc. and John Byrne had the mount. This was the first stakes
win for Lovell, a former Thoroughbred jockey. Winning time was 1:10.838.
Comments from winning jockey, John Byrne:
“He’s a tough horse; we always believed he was a good
horse. Michelle stuck with me and we did well.”
Comments from winning trainer, Michelle Lovell:
“I thought John made a great move on the rail and really stayed
in the race. The horse dug in and we won the race. This was my first
stakes win and it was so exciting - I almost had a heart attack.”
Comments from second place finisher, Omar Rodriguez, rider
of Smile Away:
"It was perfect, we just didn’t get lucky at the wire.
Nothing bad, it all went good and had a perfect break.”
Comments from Larry Taylor, rider of beaten favorite and
defending champion, Charming Socialite:
"He got trapped down on the inside, and he likes to be on the
outside of horses. I couldn't get him back to go around them, and
I couldn't get him far enough ahead to get out. Coming back after
two weeks versus his usual three weeks might have taken a little
out of him. If I could have gotten him to the outside, I could have
still made him run right by them. He just doesn't like being on
the inside."
Leaving On My Mind Scores Narrow Victory in $50,000
Richard King Handicap
The $50,000 Richard King Handicap, run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf,
attracted a field of eight geldings and one colt, including defending
champion Late Expectations. Texas Thoroughbred Association’s
2004 Horse of the Year, Leaving On My Mind, battled the field for
a win by a neck. Roman Chapa was the winning jockey for trainer
Danny Pish and owner George Wolff. Winning time was 1:51.84
Comments From winning jockey Roman Chapa:
“This horse is always run his heart out for me. Tonight there
was quite a bit of early pace and I had to hold him back a little.
But when I had room on the rail, I asked him and he really fired
for me. This has been a great year for me thanks to trainers like
Danny Pish and Steve Asmussen. I’m really happy things are
going as well as they year.”
Comments from winning trainer Danny Pish:
“We had a couple of spots for him and thought this was the
best option. He is just a great horse and a pleasure to work with.”
Comments from Gerard Melancon rider of third place finisher,
Blinding Prospect:
“My horse has been training super, and he ran his heart out.
He ran hard and pressed the whole way. He tried to come back in
the end after the bid.”
Comments from Guy Smith rider of beaten favorite and second
place finisher, Northern Scene:
"We had a good trip. We were able to slow the pace down. Gerard
(Melancon) and I were pretty much the only speed in there. Some
horses came around on the first turn that caused our horses to pick
it up a little bit sooner than we would've liked to, and I think
that is what caused us to get caught. But other than that we had
a really good trip, and my horse ran his race. It just didn't work
out."
Comments from Morris Nicks, trainer of Northern Scene:
"I think a different post would've been better. We couldn't
get him in behind horses, and he likes to run at a horse. He gets
a little hyper when he gets out there by himself. He had him slowed
down, but that's not being relaxed. If he had gotten in there where
he was covered up a little he might have been a different horse.
But he ran big and was beat by a good horse."
Slewpy’s Storm Captures $75,000 Martanza Stakes
The $75,000 Martanza Stakes, a one-mile contest, attracted a field
of seven fillies and mares. Slewpy’s Storm captured the win
under Larry Taylor for trainer M. Brent Davidson and owner Stephen
Baker. Winning time was 1:40.371.
Comments from winning jockey, Larry Taylor:
“I believed in this filly. I really did. The race set up good
for her and she performed.”
Comments from wife of winning trainer, Colleen Davidson:
She’s a great mare and really came through for us. Our whole
family worked with her, especially our daughter Sara. We treat her
like a princess and we’re thrilled she won tonight.”
Comments from second place finisher and rider of Shons
Secret, Filemon Rodriguez:
“It was a very hard try.”
Comments from Daniel Boudreau, rider of beaten favorite
Cookin’s Cast:
"She was great. I thought I was going to get it at the 3/8
when she did a little move at the quarter pole as I was coming up
towards the winner. But the winner got there before I did. She handled
the distance really well. I think next time she needs to go long
and she'll be really tough."
Dixie Meister Rallies for $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes
Win
The $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile contest for 3-year-olds
and up, attracted a field of nine runners, including 2003 champion,
Record Assembly. Dixie Meister was lead to victory by Roman Chapa.
The three-year-old gelding is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned
by Millennium Farms. Winning time was 1:44.937
Comments from winning jockey, Roman Chapa:
“I just kind of set off on the pace and let the rest burn
out a little. (Agrivating General) kind of kicked in another gear
at the 16th pole and I was a little worried.
Comments from Casey Lambert, rider of second place finisher
and beaten favorite, Agrivating General:
"It just didn't work out like we had wanted it to."
Comments from Danny Pish trainer of Agrivating General:
"The horse ran his heart out. He just didn't get up for the
win. No excuses. He just didn't quite get up there. I can't knock
the horse. I can't knock the ride. We just didn't quite get there.
I haven't really looked ahead yet; I like to take it one race at
a time, but there’s the Maxxam Gold Cup and Connally Turf
coming up, which we'll certainly consider."
Comments from third place finisher, Luis Quinonez:
“My main concern was getting him to relax. He jumped a little
too early on the bit, then he moved well turning for home, but flattened
out. Otherwise, he had a good trip.”
Annie Savoy Prevails in $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes
The $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes, a seven-furlong contest on the main
track, attracted a field of 11 two-year-old fillies. Annie Savoy
was the prevailing filly of the field and was led to victory by
jockey Jamie Theriot. The dark brown filly is owned by Hall Browning
of Dallas, Texas. Winning time was 1:25.866.
Comments from winning jockey Jamie Theriot:
“She showed a lot of talent first time out. Tonight she ran
a great race and was game down the lane. She had the tactical speed,
but could also run comfortably on the front end.”
Comments by Hal Browning, winning owner:
“We're very excited and very appreciative of Jamie coming
down to ride. We knew we had a talented filly, but hadn't faced
a field like this. Kari (Craddock) is one of my favorite people
on the planet. We would never trust a horse with anyone else. We're
just tickled to death.”
Comments from Ted Gondron, rider of Betty Garr, second
place finisher:
“She did great running the first time under the lights. I
really didn’t expect that much from her. She really impressed
me. I think she could go a little further. I think if we would have
been going a mile tonight, we would have caught them.”
Comments from Michael Stidham, trainer of Betty Garr:
“I’m real pleased with her. We were asking a lot of
her coming off of the last race where she didn’t run that
well. I think she likes this track a little bit better and we’re
going to eventually stretch her out around two turns and I think
that’s going to help her out, too. We were pleased with the
effort.”
Comments from Jeremy Beasley, rider of beaten favorite,
Kathy’s Rocket:
"Well we didn't have the best of luck. To be honest with you,
I think I just had a 3/4-mile horse. Hopefully next time we'll get
them."
Marfa’s Taxes Repeats in $50,000 San Jacinto
Stakes
The $50,000 San Jacinto Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile contest on the turf,
attracted a field of 10 fillies and mares. Roman Chapa captured
the stakes victory aboard with defending champion Marfa’s
Taxes for trainer Danny Pish. The 8-year-old mare is the victor
for the second year in a row for owner Ro Parra‘s Millennium
Farms. The winning time was 1:46.498.
Comments from winning jockey, Roman Chapa:
“I appreciate the people that put me on these horses: Steve
Asmussen and Danny Pish. I just had to sit back and watch the race
and make one run. The rail opened up for me and I came through and
won the race.”
Comments from Marilyn Asmussen, mother of trainer Steve
Asmussen:
“We are very committed to racing in Texas and we know its
going to be big. We love coming to Sam Houston Race Park.”
Comments from trainer of beaten favorite Robert Knight:
“She loves the turf. The five horse came in and blocked her
tonight, or we would've won this race. We'll give her a couple of
weeks rest, and then we'd like to bring her back for another turf
race. We might even try a longer distance for her." |
