(February 22, 2003)- Term Sheet, owned by the Ackerley Brothers Farm of Houston, and trained by Steve Asmussen, won his third consecutive race this evening at Sam Houston Race Park. He captured the $35,000 Jersey Village Stakes outlasting Agrivating General in a riveting stretch duel, crossing the wire of the one mile and sixteenth contest in a time of 1:44.03.

Ridden to victory by rider Jeremy Beasley, Term Sheet was attempting two turns for the first time, having won the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Handicap on January 4 at the distance of seven furlongs. The 5-year-old Texas-bred gelding, was ready for the challenge and closed impressively, drawing off by 1 ½ lengths.

"First of all I want to thank Mr. Ackerley for letting me ride him and a wonderful job by Mr. Asmussen," said Beasley. "Stretching him out was such a good decision. There was lots of speed in the race and it set up perfectly for us. This horse has a lot of class."

"This horse is really coming into himself this meet," commented Asmussen. "This is his third in a row here and the opportunity to run long came at the right time."

"I have to give the credit for Term Sheet’s success to Steve," said Ackerley. "He picked the horse out as a 2-year-old, trained the horse and got him going great. We’re just along for the ride."

Agrivating General was the winner of the $30,000 Magnolia Stakes and ran second to Term Sheet in the Sam Houston Sprint Handicap. Trained by Danny Pish, the 4-year-old gelding, bred and owned by Lonnie O. Bates, gave his all under rider Terry Stanton.

"He did everything I wanted him to do except win," said Stanton. "He ran a good race. My horse hasn't had an easy race; he’s run against some toughies. Today he really didn't fire down the lane like I expected him to. This is a good group of horses. He settled in real nice for me. When I called on him, he gave me a run, but not the run I thought. The winner (Term Sheet) went by easy. I just got outrun."

Desert Air, who holds the track record of 1:42.74 for the mile and one sixteenth distance, ran third for trainer Dallas Keen and rider Bobby Walker, Jr.

"That was a nice return on our $12.5 investment," said Keen. "He likes this track and is eligible for the $12.5 starters now. We'll see how he comes back and then decide on his next start."

Term Sheet was the favorite in the field of six and returned $3.60, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board. The 3-5 exacta returned $8.00 and the trifecta with Desert Air paid $60.60. Completing the order of finish were Faxamillion, Frontera One and Won C C.

Asmussen has a solid record in the Jersey Village Stakes, winning last year’s edition of the race with Captain Countdown. He indicated that Term Sheet, who holds the track record for 5 ½ furlongs at Lone Star Park (1:02.78), will make his next start in the Premier Stakes on opening night at Lone Star Park.

News and Notes

Sam Houston Race Park hosted two Arabian stakes races on the Saturday night card. Darwinn, owned by Kenneth Werner and trained by Russell Werner captured the $15,000 CRE Run/Valour Arabians Cup. Rider Candice Coffee guided the 5-year-old Arabian to victory, covering the mile and one-sixteenth distance in a time of 1:53.04.

In the $22,195 Texas Ranger Arabian Stakes another heavy favorite prevailed. Grade 1 winner Stellarr shipped in from California for owner Dianne Waldron and trainer Philip Saxer. Stellar won the one-mile stakes in a time of 1:47.70 with rider Jesus Bracho in the irons.