While graded stakes wins Saturday by Pauline's Pearl in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic and Scarlet Fusion in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup anchored the Houston Racing Festival, three other runners gave standout performances in stakes on the undercard at Sam Houston Race Park.
Susan Moulton's homebred Grade 2 winner Andthewinneris made a very successful debut in Houston in the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds.
The Kentucky-bred son of Oscar Performance won the one-mile turf event by a head from even-money favorite Private Creed in a thrilling finish. He covered the distance in 1:37.49 on turf rated as soft.
“I wasn't too worried about the softer turf,” said Wayne Catalano, trainer of Andthewinneris. “Susan lives in Houston, so we thought this would be a good stakes for the colt and his second time going two turns. He ran a good race.”
Corey Lanerie let his colt settle in sixth off the pace in the early stages of the race. He responded well heading into the far turn, rallying outside of Private Creed and winning the head bob.
“We're looking at Saratoga next summer for his next start,” Moulton said. “We tried him on the dirt, but he's more suited to the turf. He's out of a Scat Daddy mare (Run Like the Boss) and am so pleased with his sire, Oscar Performance.”
Private Creed finished 2 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Winters Lion, followed by Mazing Mark, Send the Boss, Alto Road and early pacesetter Three on the Tree.
Andthewinneris, who returned $6.60 for the win, improved his career line to 3-0-2 from seven starts, including his victory in the Bourbon (G2) last fall on the turf at Keeneland, while his lifetime bankroll increased to $353,043.
The Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile is named in honor of the late president of Sam Houston Race Park. His daughter. Dena and son, Dan Bork, who serves as assistant racing secretary/stakes coordinator at Churchill Downs and racing secretary at Ellis Park, were in Houston to make the trophy presentation.
Front-Running Score For Izatiz In Bara Lass
The first stakes of the Houston Racing Festival was the $100,000 Bara Lass for Texas-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Billy Clevenger's homebred Izatiz rebounded with aplomb from a runner-up finish in the Darby's Daughter Stakes Jan. 7 to earn her first stakes victory, scoring by open lengths.
Breaking from the far outside under jockey Reylu Gutierrez, the daughter of My Golden Song out of the Tiznow mare Tiz Tiz handled the muddy main track admirably. Vying for the lead five wide through the opening quarter mile, she took charge thereafter and drew off to victory by 7½ lengths over Blushing Belle.
Izatiz covered six furlongs in 1:13.44 while improving her record to 2-3-0 from six starts and $116,985 in earnings.
“I was very lucky to load last and keep her calm in the gates,” said Gutierrez. “This filly was very agile and got the job done today.”
Trainer David Gomez liked his far outside draw and was pleased with her performance.
“We were hoping the speed would go and settle behind, but when she broke so well, Rey just let her go,” he said. “She's a brilliant filly and we hope to see her win more stakes in the future.”
Texas breeder Clevenger, and his wife, Linda, said he was hoping for the victory in the Darby's Daughter, a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes, but loved the performance of Izatiz on Saturday.
“She finally got a clean trip and that was the biggest thing,” he said.. “I have to thank 'Mattress Mack' (Houston businessman and philanthropist Jim McIngvale), who gave us the mare. Her sister, Zarelda was stakes-placed (at Sam Houston), so as a small breeder, it's really a thrill.”
Izatiz rewarded her backers with a win payout of $9.20.
Blushing Belle finished second, followed by Stelliot's Legacy, a neck back in third.
Second Stakes Triumph For Vietnam Victory In Groovy Stakes
A full field of Texas-bred colts and geldings competed in the $100,000 Gexa Energy Groovy Stakes, also run at six furlongs on the muddy main track.
James Stodola's Vietnam Victory made the most of his outside post to win his third race and second stakes tally.
Trainer Bret Calhoun gave a leg up to jockey Jose Alvarez, who wasted no time getting to the lead before crossing the wire in 1:11.73.
“I was glad that we drew that post on a very wet track,” commented Calhoun. “You never know how a horse will handle an off track and he's been off a long time. We thought he was good enough.”
Bred by CJ Thoroughbreds, Vietnam Victory ($16.80) is a son of Klimt out of the Smart Strike mare Real Strike. His owner was on hand for the trophy presentation.
“I love this horse and thank Bret for picking him,” said Stodola. “I fought in Vietnam and was honored with the distinguished flying cross and was just inducted into the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame. I had some victories in Vietnam; that's how he was named.”
Lil Sweet Thang rallied gamely for second, a nose in front of Guitar Boy.
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