KISS MY ANNEE GL CAPTURES THE $106,000 TEXAS-BRED CHAMPIONSHIP AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Five Additional Stakes for Texas-Breds Including the Jesse Yoakum 870 Stakes Were Contested
HOUSTON, TX – Texas Quarter Horse breeders shared their pride when Sam Houston Race Park hosted six stakes races on Saturday, June 12. Here are the recaps of the featured events.
Kiss My Annee GL Scores First Career Stakes Win in the $106,000 Texas-Bred Championship
Trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. has been winning at pretty much every level throughout the 2021 Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse meet so it was no surprise that Kiss My Annee GL became a stakes winner this evening.
Bred by Francisco Javier Garcia, the 4-year-old son of Kiss My Hocks out of the Devon Lane (TB) mare Grande Annee was claimed for $7,500 at Remington Park in May, 2019 by Felix Rodriguez and Sergio Holguin. She made starts in New Mexico before competing at Retama Park and Lone Star last year and finishing her 3-year-old campaign with a sixth-place finish in the $111,000 Evangeline Downs Derby.
Tonight marked his third start at Sam Houston Race Park where he ran fifth in the 350-yard Harris County Stakes on May 21 and prepped for this with a victory on May 28.
“This is pretty exciting,” said Holguin, following the victory. “For a $7,500 claimer to win a $100,000 race is really something. We like this horse very much and decided to take a chance and it worked out!”
Jorge Javier Garcia had the call tonight, breaking from the far outside post in the six-horse field, and steadily closing as he crossed the wire of the 400 yard stakes in :20.010 seconds, earning a 104 speed index. Finishing second by a nose was Famous Chief, under Bryan Candanosa, who also earned the same impressive speed index. Five Bar Silver, also trained by Diaz, ran third followed by L Capone, Carry The Memories and Tomball Stakes winner Air To Em Jess.
Kiss My Annee GL, sent off as the second choice in the wagering, paid $5.60 for the win, his 5th victory in 14 career efforts. The winner’s share of $63,600 was his biggest check to date, increasing his earnings to $119,250.
Holguin said that his stakes winner will remain at Sam Houston Race Park and he and Diaz will look at the stakes schedule for the transferred Retama Park 20-day meet, which begins on June 23.
Viva Le Don Wires the Field in the $81,000 Jesse Yoakum 870 Stakes
The seventh race on Saturday night’s card was the $81,000 Jesse Yoakum 870 Stakes named in honor of the late Quarter Horse trainer Jesse Yoakum.
Viva Le Don, bred and owned by Rockin J Running Horses, lived up to his favoritism, scoring an impressive victory under rider Josh Romero. The 5-year-old son of Rock Solid Jess broke from post position four, went to the lead and drew off to a 7 ½ length victory in :45,631 seconds, equaling a 99 speed index.
“He's a really good horse," Romero said following the win. "We had a great break and he showed a lot of confidence out there tonight; he just excelled. "The way Tammy trains her horses is phenomenal. Every time I get a chance to ride for her, I take advantage of it,"
Bred by Johnson and Jack Manning, from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Viva Arriba, Viva Le Don has compiled a (27) 8-3-7 record. He won the Remington Park Distance Challenge (G2) earlier this year at Remington Park.
"I always had the plan all along to stretch him out," Johnson said. "His body needed to mature to be able to run the hook and I wanted him healthy and strong. He loved it, but had to learn a little bit on how to handle the traffic. He's a smart horse and has figured it out. Once you breed them, it's extra special. They are family to us."
The Kings Horse earned $16,200 for finishing second. Jockey Jerry Lee Yoakum rode the Bullard Farms homebred for trainer Lewis "Tooter" Jordan. Out of the Hadif (TB) mare Fleeta Dif, The Kings Horse has earned $45,226 in 16 career starts.
Show Time, ran third for owner-breeder Jerry Windham. Also trained by Jordan, the son of One Famous Eagle was ridden by Claudio Aguilar. Love Ta Zoom, Silver City Lights, Executive Trust, Tek Ni Color and Stolis Pro competed the field.
The stakes was named in honor of Yoakum, who passed away on October 3, 2019 at the age of 69. He was a strong supporter of Texas racing and had tremendous success at Sam Houston Race Park. He was a jockey prior to beginning a training career that spanned 30 years, Yoakum saddled 418 Quarter Horse winners with earnings in excess of $3.2 million. Among his top performers were Sam Houston Futurity (G1) winner Beduinos Rusty, Sam Houston Classic (G2) winner A Glint Of Gold, 870-yard specialist, The Field Cricket, Governor's Cup Marathon(G3) winner Doctor Streakin, Barnmaster Sprint Stakes(RG3) winner Turfinator and Chevrolet Heartbeat of America(G3) winner Ronas Wind Dancer.
Yoakum’s wife, Sharon and son Jerry Lee, who has been a longstanding member of the Sam Houston jockey colony, made the presentation on Saturday night.
Pa Cha Ching Powered to Victory in the $80,250 Sam Houston 250 Stakes
Pa Cha Ching, a 4-year-old son of Tempting Dash won the $80,250 Sam Houston 250 Stakes. Bred by Pat Allen and trained by John Stinebaugh, the sorrel colt made his 12th career start for the ownership group of Robert Armor and Samuel and Helen Henderson, The runner-up to Trump My Record in the 2019 Sam Houston Futurity (G2), Pa Cha Chingbobbled the start but recover nicely to defeat Jess Eleven Or Seen by three-quarters of a length in the super-sprint contest.
Ridden by Jose Ivan Martinez, the son Tempting Dash completed the 250 yards in a quick :13.191 clocking, equaling a 105 speed index with a 5mph tailwind. The $48,150 winner's purse pushed the colt's earnings total to $156,248.
"He was ready last year, but Sam Houston cancelled the meet (due to Covid),” said Allen. I raised Pa Cha Ching; he's just a super Horse. I can't tell you how smart he is and he's going to be a sire."
Runner-up Jess Eleven Or Seven earned $16,050 for owner-breeder's Esmeralda and Chad Peck. Rolando Almanza trains the Jess Louisiana Blue mare. Jockey Ricardo Garza-Cruz was aboard the $58,219 earner.
Ms Guerra stepped out of the claiming ranks to finish one-length back in third. The $8,828 payday nearly doubled the Tammy Wuthrich owned mare's earnings to $20,546. Melody Brooks had the riding call on the Shazooms Glory Dash 5-year-old for trainer Jeffery Brooks. Lethal Women, Witchers Cartel and Blue Capo completed the field.
Ss Classy Jess Would Not Be Denied in the $80,250 Miss Sam Houston Stakes
Edgar Rosales’ Ss Classy Jess, who has won stakes at Louisiana Downs, Retama Park and Lone Star Park, added her first championship at Sam Houston Race Park in the 330-yard, $80,200 Miss Sam Houston Stakes. The 5-year-old mare by Rock Solid Jess, closed powerfully under rider Juan Garcia in :16.733 seconds, equaling a 99 speed index.
Trained by Jose Carrizales, who has won back-to-back training titles at Louisiana Downs, SS Classyjess was bred by Ronnie Stewart and Double S Farm.
"The way she closed really impressed me," Carrizales, who ran horses today at Delta, said over the phone after the race. "The way the three horse broke scared me, but that's what this mare likes; she loves the competition. Today was her 34th start, but she is so easy to train. She rests on her own and never wastes energy; saves it all for the racetrack! "
Ss Classy Jess ( $4.60) has won 15 of 34 starts and the $48,150 Miss Houston purse increased her earnings to $330,446.
Coming off a second-place effort behind Fear the Dragon in the $332,000 Sam Houston Derby May 14th, Jess A Dashin Angela earned $16,050 for her effort. Rolando Almanza conditions the homebred daughter of Dash Master Jess for owner-breeder Cesar Rosales. Out of the Jet Black Patriot mare Mi Angela, the bay filly has banked $111,110. Ricardo Garza-Cruz had the riding call aboard Jess A Dashin Angela.
Leading Senorita was a neck back in the blanket-finish to pick up $8,828 for third. Manuel Roman named Pedro Espinosa to ride the daughter of champion sire The Louisiana Cartel for owner Esmael Garcia. I Got Daddys Eyes and Coronados Lil Lady completed the field.
Exciting Dead-Heat With Dak and Ghost Bear in the $80,250 Sam Houston 550 Stakes
Dak and Ghost Bear got the evening rolling with an entertaining dead-heat in the $80,250 Sam Houston 550 Stakes. The pair completed the 550 yards in :27.467 seconds, equaling a 103 speed index with a 3mph tailwind. They each earned $32,100 for the effort.
Racing for owner Blue Star Racing and trainer Brian Stroud, Dak is a 5-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Dominyun. Winner of the TQHA Sale Futurity (RG3) at 2, Dak has compiled a (18) 4-3-0 record and earned $290,607.
"I've only had him two months,” said Stroud. “Janessa (Muniz) ran him in Shreveport. he didn't get away all that well tonight , but came running on the end. I started him here two weeks ago and he kind of got washed out; he ran a lot better tonight."
Bullard Farms bred the gray gelding from the Fishers Dash mare Fleet Elis. Carlos Chacon was up.
Ghost Bear races for owner Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio. Noe Villatoro rode the 4-year-old Phantom Menace gelding out of thoroughbred mare Loose Play by Intimidator (TB).
"The owner didn't want me to run him in this stakes, but I knew he could do it," said Rubio.
Ten Sent, a 4-year-old Country Chicks Man gelding owned by Jessica Remington, finished 1-½ lengths back to earn $8,828 for third. Also bred by Bullard Farms, from the Jet Cartel mare Pink Cartel, Ten Sent has earned $58,528. Cordarelton Benn had the riding call for trainer Ty Remington. Steves Klassy Jess and P Walk Survivor completed the field. Moment Of Fury was scratched.
Decisive Victory by Alluring Winner in the $53,000 Sam Houston Starter Stakes
Alluring Winner ($3.20), under jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. defeated Dm First Talent by 1-½ lengths in the $53,000 Sam Houston Starter Stakes.
Racing for owner Carlos Ponce, Alluring Winner completed the 350 yards in :17.802 seconds, equaling a 93 speed index. It was the third win in 12 starts for the 4-year-old son of Specially Alluring. The $31,800 winner's purse more than doubles his earnings total to $60,092.
Juan Diaz, Jr. trains the bay gelding out of the Runaway Winner mare Runaway Nightmare. He was bred by Thomas and Elizabeth Mills. Dm First Talent completed the exacta. Justin Powell trains the 4-year-old filly for owner McGehee Horse and Cattle LLC. Butch Glory ran third followed by Nanyehi and Miz Alamo. Bodacious Zoot Suit was scratched.
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including a Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the racetrack, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming live racing, shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.
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Photos: Coady Photography
