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Elliott, Asmussen, End Zone Athletics Take Sam Houston Titles

Jockey Stewart Elliott picked up his second leading rider title at Sam Houston Race Park as the meet wrapped up its 50-day stand Saturday. Elliott had the support of trainer Steve Asmussen, riding first call for the Hall of Fame conditioner as he piloted 296 mounts, winning 62 races with earnings of $1,490,006. The successful union between Elliott and Asmussen began in Houston two years ago and has continued at Lone Star Park and Remington Park.

“I have to thank Steve Asmussen and all the owners and trainers who gave me opportunities and put me on great horses,” said Elliott. “Also, to my agent Scott Hare, who did a great job, as always. I'm very appreciative to be in this position.”

Asmussen won his 14th training title at the northwest Houston racetrack, following honors as top trainer in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Asmussen started 259 runners, finishing with a record of 51 wins, 41 seconds, 55 thirds and earnings of $1,554,306. He conditions Stonestreet Stable's homebred Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), who captured the richest race of the annual Sam Houston Thoroughbred season, the $400,000 GIII Houston Ladies Classic.

End Zone Athletics, Inc. clearly topped the owner standings, finishing with 22 wins, 29 seconds and 18 third-place finishes from 137 starters. The ownership group, founded by Karl Broberg, has been a force at Sam Houston for over a decade with previous titles in 2018 and 2020.

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Pauline’s Pearl Gives Asmussen Third Houston Ladies Classic Victory

A very successful renewal of the Houston Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park took place on Sunday afternoon in Houston, Texas, with exciting performances throughout the program and tremendous support by horseplayers here and across the country.

For the second year in a row, Sam Houston Race Park set a new all-source handle record with $5.98 million wagered on the 11-race program. This number topped last year's wagering record of 5.3 million and the $5.2 million wagered on the NTRA Great State Challenge in 2002.

Stonestreet Stable LLC's homebred Pauline's Pearl won the richest race on the card, the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.

It was the third win in the Houston Ladies Classic for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who trained previous winners Midnight Bisou and Lady Apple. On Sunday, Pauline's Pearl, at odds of 3-5, joined the list as his third winner of the featured race since the Houston Ladies Classic was inaugurated in 2013.

“This is a very key race and the mares who have won this have a big say in the stakes for older mares,” said Asmussen. “Pauline's Pearl is a very nice Stonestreet homebred who has been training extremely well and we are proud of this victory.”

Asmussen spoke about the future of the talented filly.

“She won the Fantasy at Oaklawn last year, so we will head back to Hot Springs and hope she continues to progress,” he added.

The multiple graded stakes placed filly won the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park last spring before competing in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She is a daughter of Tapit and is out of the Dixie Union mare Hot Dixie Chick, a multiple graded stakes winner who Asmussen also trained during her racing career.

With her share of the Houston Ladies Classic purse, Pauline's Pearl is just shy of becoming racing's newest millionaire, with $968,500 earned in 11 starts and four wins.

The victory gave Joel Rosario his second stakes win of the day. The pair sat off the pace early and had their work cut out for them as they swung wide in the final turn and pulled clear of runner-up Golden Curl in the stretch to win by 3 3/4 lengths. The final time for the mile and one-sixteenth on the main track stake on the main track was 1:44.43. Golden Curl sat comfortably in second place throughout the race with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for trainer Shawn Davis.

“The trip set up beautifully for us,” said Gaffalione. “She broke alertly and the favorite went ahead. I was able to get to her outside. She settled nicely and even though we couldn't catch the winner, my filly gave a good performance today.”

The 6-year-old Curlin mare is also bred by Stonestreet and is owned by George Sharp. She made her debut in Houston in the Ladies Classic and was a stakes winner at Remington last fall.

Corey Lanerie and Audrey's Time finished third for trainer Neil Pessin. Owned by Lothenbach Stables, Audrey's Time is a 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo who shipped in fresh off a win at the Fair Grounds in the $75,000 Joseph “Spanky” Broussard Stakes.

Becca's Rocket completed the superfecta while pacesetter The Mary Rose finished fifth, followed by Velvet Crush and Champagne Affair.

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Houston Ladies Classic Gets Purse Bump

The GIII Houston Ladies Classic and GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup headline Sam Houston Race Park's 2022 stakes Thoroughbred schedule, which will offer $2,275,000 in total purses. The expanded 50-day meet will begin Thursday, Jan. 6.

With track officials expressing hopes that the North American Graded Stakes committee will boost its status from Grade III for 2022, the purse for the Houston Ladies Classic has been increased from $300,000 to $400,000. Slated this year for Jan. 30 as part of the Houston Racing Festival, the Ladies Classic has been won by some high-profile fillies and mares in its nine renewals, including superstar Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in 2019 and likely champion older female Letruska (Super Saver) this year.

The Houston Racing Festival will also feature the $200,000 Connally, $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint, $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf S., $75,000 Stonerside Sprint and the $200,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile–formerly the Texas Turf Mile–for sophomores.

Bork, the former president of Sam Houston, passed away in June at the age of 83.

“Bob Bork set a tremendous foundation for the growth of Sam Houston Race Park when he was hired in 1995,” said Dwight Berube, the track's vice president and general manager. “Throughout his 12-year tenure, he was admired by horsemen, horseplayers and employees and initiated many programs that have been emulated by racetracks across the country. We look forward to honoring him on the premier day of our upcoming racing season.”

The Ladies Classic and Connally will be run Lasix-free.

Frank Hopf, who was recently promoted to the role of assistant general manager, said of the upcoming meet, “Over the past three years, we have received tremendous support from all of the stakeholders in Texas and the horseplayers have responded to the improved racing product. The goal is to build on the positives from 2021 and continue to enhance Texas racing.”

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Sam Houston Boosts Purse For Houston Ladies Classic To $400,000 In 2022

Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2022 live racing season on Thursday, Jan. 6 with an expanded 50-day Thoroughbred meet.

The 2022 Thoroughbred Stakes schedule will offer $2,275,000 in purses. Its Houston Racing Festival is set for Sunday, January 30 headlined by the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and the John B. Connally Turf (G3). Inaugurated in 2013, the Houston Ladies Classic was formed to serve as the marquee racing event for Sam Houston's Thoroughbred meet. Now in its tenth running, the mile and one-sixteenth Houston Ladies Classic continues to produce exceptional champions that make an impact on the national radar throughout the year.

St. George Stable's Letruska continues to deny her rivals in graded stakes competition across the United States. Following her commanding victory in the Houston Ladies Classic, the 5-year-old mare by Super Saver has won five stakes, including four Grade 1 titles. She currently ranks second in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, a weekly salute to the ten leading Thoroughbreds in North America and will compete next in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

The purse for the Houston Ladies Classic has been raised from $300,000 to $400,000 for the coming year and officials are hopeful that the North American Graded Stakes committee will boost its status from the Grade 3 level when announcement is made later this year.

The Houston Racing Festival also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint, the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes and $75,000 Stonerside Sprint. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for three-year-olds has attracted full field for the last two years and has been renamed as the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile.

Bob Bork was a respected racing executive who joined Sam Houston Race Park as senior vice president and general manager in 1995 and was promoted to president in 2002. He passed away peacefully at his home in Houston on June 11, 2021 at the age of 83.

Dwight Berube, who worked for Bork throughout his Sam Houston Race Park tenure, is now the racetrack's vice president and general manager.

“Bob Bork set a tremendous foundation for the growth of Sam Houston Race Park when he was hired in 1995,” said Berube. “Throughout his 12-year tenure, he was admired by horsemen, horseplayers and employees and initiated many programs that have been emulated by racetracks across the country. We look forward to honoring him on the premier day of our upcoming racing season.”

Opportunities for Texas-breds will be plentiful in the upcoming meet with 14 Texas-bred stakes. All seven stakes races on Texas Champions Day will run with purses of $100,000.

Frank Hopf, who was recently promoted to Sam Houston Race Park's Assistant General Manager, is eager for racing to return in January.

“Over the past three years, we have received tremendous support from all of the stakeholders in Texas and the horseplayers have responded to the improved racing product,” said Hopf. “The goal is to build on the positives from 2021 and continue to enhance Texas racing.'

Additionally, Hopf also announced that both the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and the John B. Connally Turf (G3) will run Lasix-free in 2022.

2022 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule

Thursday, January 20, 2022 Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series

$75,000 My Dandy – 3yo – 5 ½ Furlongs

$75,000 Darby's Daughter – 3yo F – 5 ½ Furlongs

Sunday, January 30, 2022 Houston Racing Festival – Over $1,000,000 in Purses

$400,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile

$200,000 John B. Connally Turf (G3) – 4&up – 1 1/2 Mile (T)

$200,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile- 3YO -1 Mile (T)

$100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint – 4&up – 5 Furlongs (T)

$75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile (T)

$75,000 Stonerside Sprint – 4&up – 6 Furlongs

Saturday, February 19, 2022 Texas Preview Day for Texas-breds

$75,000 Jim's Orbit – 3yo – 6 Furlongs

$75,000 Two Altazano – 3yo F – 6 Furlongs

$75,000 H-Town – 4 YO & up 7 Furlongs

$75,000 Miss Bluebonnet Turf – 4&up F&M – 1 Mile (T)

$75,000 Houston Turf – 4&up – 1 1/16 Miles (T)

Saturday, February 26, 2022 Texas Arabian Night

$30,000-added Texas Six Shooter (G3) – 4 &5 yo – 7 Furlongs

$30,000-added Yellow Rose (G3) – 4 &5 yo F&M – 7 Furlongs

Saturday, March 19, 2022 Darley Night

$30,000 Darley Distaff – 4 yo & up F&M – 7 Furlongs

$30,000 Darley Sprint – 4 yo & up – 7 Furlongs

Saturday, March 26, 2022 Texas Champions Day for Texas-breds

$100,000 Bara Lass Stakes – 3yo F – 6 Furlongs

$100,000 Groovy Stakes – 3yo – 6 furlongs

$100,000 Richard King – 4&up – 1 1/8 Mile (T)

$100,000 San Jacinto – 4&up F&M – 1 1/16 Mile (T)

$100,000 Spirit of Texas – 4&up – 6 Furlongs

$100,000 Yellow Rose Stakes – 4&up F&M – 6 furlongs

$100,000 Star of Texas – 4&up -1 Mile

James Leatherman will serve as racing secretary for the Thoroughbred live racing season and the 25-day Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse meet which will run from Friday, April 22 through Saturday, June 18. Stall applications for the upcoming Thoroughbred season are due by Wednesday, November 3. The Sam Houston Race Park barn area will open on Friday, December 3 with training hours set to commence on Monday, December 6. The first condition book is available on equibase.com and further information about the season can be accessed at shrp.com.

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 and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, 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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