Houston, Texas (February 4, 2006) - It was deja vu for trainer John Locke as for the second year in a row, his runners finished first and second in tonight’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park, the $40,000 Jersey Village Stakes.

Defending champion, Twilight Vision, was victorious again this year. He had a new pilot aboard in Glen Murphy and once again, held off the late rally of his entry mate, Oncearoundtwice, who was closing fast under rider Jeremy Beasley. Both Thoroughbreds are owned by Evelyn Bean of Hurst, Texas.

It has been an interesting year for Twilight Vision since winning the 2005 Jersey Village Stakes last February. Following his third place finish in a turf allowance last April at Lone Star Park, Locke felt that he deserved a vacation and turned him out for the summer. He resumed training late in the fall and returned to the racetrack with a second place effort on the turf on December 23. He finished 11th in the $100,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup last month, but that result did not disappoint his trainer.

“He has always shown an affinity for the turf, so we were not too upset about his finish in the race on the main track,” commented Locke. “It was a lot of fun running one-two again in this stakes.”

Murphy is on a roll of late, taking over the lead in the Sam Houston Race Park jockey standings over Larry Taylor. He won last weekend’s feature, the $30,000 Bucharest Stakes and was pleased with the performance of Twilight Vision tonight.

“Charming Socialite went out the lead and I was supposed to stay right behind him,” said Murphy. “John’s conditioned this horse very nicely and I knew I had plenty left. When we turned for home, he kicked for me; I felt someone coming and thought I got nabbed, but it was nice to see those red polka dots.”

Twilight Vision ($6.20) crossed the wire of the mile-and-one-sixteenth contest over a firm Connally Turf Course in 1:44.85. He earned $24,000 for tonight’s victory, boosting his career earnings to $105,520.

Post-time favorite, Charming Socialite, trained by Bill Pettit, was making his first start since Texas Champions Day on November 19. He was sent to the lead by regular rider Taylor, but could not hold off the Locke-trained entry.

“Well, he’s been off a couple of months and he needed a race,” said Taylor. “He ran that race and ran hard got a little tired at the 5/16 pole. He just kept digging in, and gave it everything he had. We only worked him twice in two months, so we needed a race. He needed the race tonight, and I think it made all the difference.”

Twilight Vision paid $6.20 for the win. The 1-6 exacta returned $21.00 and the 1-6-5 trifecta with Agrivating General, paid $56.60. Zone Stopper was fourth followed by Spearsville, Late Expectations, PF Don D, Classoffiftyseven and Stone Cold.

No Live Racing on Super Bowl Sunday

There will be no live racing on Sunday, February 5 due to the Super Bowl. Sam Houston Race Park will open at 10:30 a.m. for simulcasting and viewing of the Super Bowl. Racing resumes on Thursday, February 9 and will take place every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sunday, April 9, 2006.