ronnie cravens | Horse Racing Free Tips

The first two stakes of the 2022 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred season were contested on Thursday afternoon with Pinky Ring Bling living up to his post-time favoritism in the $75,000 My Dandy and Texas Thunder breaking her maiden in the $75,000 Darby's Daughter. The Texas Thoroughbred Association sponsors the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series (TSSS), a set of races for progeny of nominated Texas-based stallions. The series features three sets of races, each split into two divisions (colts/geldings and fillies) for a purse of $75,000 per division. The races honor notable Texas horses of the past.

A field of five colts and geldings entered the starting gate in the $75,000 My Dandy, but there was no denying Pinky Ring Bling who drew off to a 3 ¼ length victory under jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez as the 2-5 favorite. He crossed the wire of the five and one-half furlong race in 1:05.67 over a fast main track.

Trainer Ronnie Cravens saddled the colt by Too Much Bling, who races for the Lone Star Racing Club. He ran third in the Texas Avenger at Lone Star Park and third in the Kip Deville at Remington Park last September. It marked the colt's first stakes win as well as the first for Cravens.

“He's just been getting better and better,” said Cravens. “He's come a long way since we purchased him (for $5,000) at the TTA Yearling Sale. I'd like to mention breeder Ronald Ellerbee, who passed away a couple days ago. He's been a longtime breeder and loved his horses.”

Grami's Boy dueled gamely for trainer Mindy Willis; had the lead briefly and was able to hold for second. Bodymoor Heath completed the trifecta, followed by Moro Code and Regal Prize.

This was the second victory in six starts for Pinky Ring Bling ($2.80) and the winner's check of $45,000 boosted his career earnings to $81,860.

My Dandy was a 1925 Texas-bred foal who boasted a lifetime record of 191 starts with 47 wins and earnings of $137,923. A true “iron horse”, he ran from 1927 to 1935 and in 1930 made 43 starts in a single year.

Five fillies entered the starting gate in the second feature of the day, the $75,000 Darby's Daughter with a big score by Carl Moore Management LLC's Texas Thunder, who lit up the tote board at 25-1.

Bred by Robert Francis, the filly by Bradester ran third in the Texas Stallion Stakes- Pan Zareta Division on June 13 at Lone Star Park before beginning her 2022 season here on January 6. Trainer Karen Jacks was hoping to see improvement from the chestnut filly, but was clearly wowed at her maiden-breaking performance tonight. Under Valdez-Jiminez, she went to the lead and would not be denied. She drew off by five lengths, winning in 1:05.46.

“I knew she had it in her,” said Jacks. “She likes a tighter racing surface, so with the rain we had, I wasn't sure how it would go today. But she's very talented and I'm very happy for Carl. We had this plan for her and look forward to the next Texas-bred stakes here.”

Valdez-Jiminez was pleased with winning both features and spoke about Texas Thunder, who rewarded her supporters with a win payout of $58.40.

Eagle Express was sent off the favorite and the Steve Asmussen-trainee ran a game second under jockey Stewart Elliott. Kim's Texas Bling, It's a Gee Thing and Amazonian Queen completed the order of finish.

Darby's Daughter made her racing debut in 1988, winning two stakes at Louisiana Downs, the Grade 2, Miss Grillo at Aqueduct and the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar. She retired with an impressive record of five wins from 15 starts and earnings of $435,104.

Sam Houston Race Park will showcase additional stakes races for Texas-breds on Saturday, February 19 with Texas Preview Day featuring the five stakes and Saturday, March 26 when the northwest Houston racetrack presents Texas Champions Day with seven $100,000 stakes on the card.

Texas Thunder wins the Darby's Daughter division of the Texas Stallion Stakes Series

The post Pinky Ring Bling, Texas Thunder Win Texas Stallion Stakes At Sam Houston appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The first two stakes of the 2022 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred season will take place Thursday, Jan. 20. The $75,000 My Dandy and $75,000 Darby's Daughter will be run at the distance of five and one-half furlongs on the main track. Post time for Thursday's card is 4:00 pm (Central) with the My Dandy running as the opener and the Darby's Daughter to follow.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association sponsors the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series (TSSS), a set of races for progeny of nominated Texas-based stallions. The series features three sets of races, each split into two divisions (colts/geldings and fillies) for a purse of $75,000 per division. The races honor notable Texas horses of the past.

The Thursday afternoon card begins with 3-year-old colts and geldings in the $75,000 My Dandy. Trainer Ronnie Cravens will saddle the 2-5 morning-line choice, Pinky Ring Bling, who will be ridden by Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, who piloted Carbon Stryker to victory in last year's edition of the stakes.

The son of Too Much Bling will be making his sixth career start for Lone Star Racing Club. He ran third in the Texas Avenger at Lone Star Park and most recently, in the Kip Deville at Remington Park. Cravens is optimistic that the colt will win his first stakes on Thursday.

“He's just starting to mature,” said Cravens. “ We are seeing more of a professional look to him.”

Cravens and his wife, Melodie, set up an ownership group four years ago. Jerry Cate and Big E are among the Lone Star Racing Club members and several other individuals are proud owners of Pinky Ring Bling, who was a modest $5,000 sale purchase and has already won $36,860.

“We have a nice mix of individuals in our group; some owned Quarter Horses and were interested in getting involved in Thoroughbred racing as well,” added Cravens.

Mary Rampellini, who covers racing in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico for the Daily Racing Form, reported that this would be the first stakes win for Cravens, who won his first career race in 2003.

One other note of interest is that two jockeys riding in the My Dandy share a unique status in Thoroughbred racing; both have fathers who are also active riders. Lane Luzzi, who will pilot Sam Sherman's Bodymoor Heath, is the son of New York veteran rider Mike Luzzi. Jansen Melancon, who will break from the rail aboard Moro Code is the son of Louisiana-based Gerard Melancon.

The field for the My Dandy, from the rail, with riders and morning-line odds:

Moro Code, Jansen Melancon, 10-1; Regal Prize, Stewart Elliott,15-1; Pinky Ring Bling, Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, 2-5; Bodymoor Heath, Lane Luzzi, 9-2, and Grami's Boy, Alfredo Triana Jr, 7-2.

My Dandy was a 1925 Texas-bred foal who boasted a lifetime record of 191 starts with 47 wins and earnings of $137,923. A true “iron horse,” he ran from 1927 to 1935 and in 1930 made 43 starts in a single year.

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Five fillies will enter the starting gate in the second feature of the day, the $75,000 Darby's Daughter with Eagle Express in pursuit of her second stakes victory.

Bred and owned by W.S. Farish, the daughter of Eagle is trained by Steve Asmussen. The bay filly made two starts last year at Lone Star Park, winning the Texas Stallion Stakes on June 13 before running sixth in the Grade 3, Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga. She has earned $65,260 in five starts.

“She a nice filly and already a stakes winner,” said Asmussen, who has been dividing his time between Oaklawn Park and Fair Grounds. “We expect a good effort from her.”

Valor Farm in Pilot Point Texas, is well-represented in both features. Too Much Bling has topped the standings from 2013 -2019, and their stallion roster also includes Braedster, My Golden Song, Competitive Edge and first crop sire, Eagle.

“Eagle is a son of Candy Ride and we have always respected the quality of horses bred by Mr. Farish,” added Asmussen, who has won 13 Sam Houston Race Park training titles.

Trainer Danny Pish has two starters in the Darby's Daughter. Its a Gee Thing, sired by Early Flyer, who he owns along with GFB Racing LLC and Mike Renfro. Pish will also saddle Kim's Texas Bling, a filly by Texas Bling, bred and owned by Halls Family Trust.

Last year's winner, Michael Grossman's Star of the North also captured the $75,000 Two Altazano Stakes at Sam Houston before returning to Canterbury Park. The filly by The Hunk added three more victories and a runner-up finish in the $110,00 Minnesota Oaks. She completed her 2022 campaign with seven wins from ten starts and earnings of $299,850.

The Darby's Daughter will run as race two. The field from the rail, , with riders and morning-line odds:

Its a Gee Thing, Danny Sorenson, 6-1; Amazonian Queen, Gerardo Mora, 4-1; Texas Thunder, Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, 15-1; Eagle Express, Stewart Elliott, 6-5, and Kim's Texas Bling, Jose Alvarez, 8-5.

The post Sam Houston: Pinky Ring Bling, Eagle Express Favored In Thursday’s Texas Stallion Series Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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