RACING AT SAM HOUSTON THIS OPENING WEEKEND

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The opening night racing card features trials for the Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge (G3), the Bayer Legend Texas Derby Challenge (G3) and the John Deere Texas Distaff Challenge (G3). Snowy Alibi, 2006 Sam Houston Race Park Horse of the Meeting, is entered in the second Bayer Legend Derby trial. Alfonso Lujan will ride the Texas-bred colt, who will be making his 2007 debut for trainer Janet Van Bebber.


TQHA Sires’ Trials and First Stakes of Meet Saturday at Sam Houston



This Snow Is Cold returns to Sam Houston
on Saturday in Challenge trials.

SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK—THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007—Live American Quarter Horse racing continues at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, June 30 with 13 live races set, beginning with a special post time of 5:00 p.m.
The first ten races will be trials for the $135,280 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2). The ten fastest qualifiers will return for the finals on Saturday, July 14.

In addition to the 2-year-old trials, the first stakes of the 2007 American Quarter Horse Meeting, the $20,000-added Stephen F. Austin Stakes, will take place. The 350-yard feature attracted a field of 10, including defending champion, Ronas Wind Dancer.

The 9-year-old Ronas Ryon gelding is owned and bred by Sheri Mueller Rosinski of Bellville, Texas and trained by Jesse Yoakum. This will be the third year in a row that Ronas Wind Dancer has started in the Stephen F. Austin Stakes. He finished third in the 2005 edition of the Texas-bred feature.

His rivals include Hesa Lil Bit High, a gelded son of On A High and winner of the Live Oak Handicap on May 26 at Retama Park for trainer Robert Touchet and Ida Snow Man, the This Snow Is Royal gelding who won the $26,280 Professional’s Choice Challenge Championship last July at Sam Houston Race Park.

The final two races of the evening will be trials for the Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship (G1). Defending champion, This Snow Is Cold leads the field in the first trial. Owned by Los Ladrilleros Horse Racing Company and trained by Frank Mendez, This Snow Is Cold has won 11 of her 31 career starts and has bankrolled $489,335 to date. The talented 6-year-old daughter of This Snow Is Royal made her first start of 2007 on June 9 at Delta Downs, winning the $20,000 Develop A Plan Stakes. She will break from post position 8 under Russel Hadley as the 8-5 morning line favorite.

Following the final race on Saturday, country music legend, Merle Haggard will perform in the Verizon Wireless Concert Series. For more information regarding live American Quarter Horse racing at Sam Houston Race Park , visit shrp.com or call (281) 807-8760. Tickets and a complete list of performers for the Verizon Wireless Concert Series are available on MusicAtThePark.com.

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St Pats First Wins Stephen F. Austin Stakes at Sam Houston


SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK—SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2007—Live American Quarter Horse racing returned to Sam Houston Race Park on Friday evening and the opening night crowd of 8,280 enjoyed a great racing card followed by a fine performance by rising country music star, Jason Aldean in the first Verizon Wireless Concert Series.

The Saturday evening program featured 13 races including trials for the TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity, Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship and the first stakes of the 2007 American Quarter Horse Meeting, the $24,750 Stephen F. Austin Stakes.

St Pats First returned to the winner’s circle for owners Jerry and Bob Gaston of Seguin , Texas . The 4-year-old colt is trained by Heath Taylor and was ridden to victory by Russel Hadley. This was the 14th career start for the son of First Down Dash, who finished with authority over Hesa Lil Bit High, covering 350 yards in 17.71.

This was a renewal of the matchup between the two colts with Hesa Lil Bit high edging St Pats First in the $20,000 Live Oak Handicap on May 26 at Retama Park .

“He and that horse (Hesa Lil Bit High) are fairly even,” commented Taylor . “He beat us at Retama and they both got away good tonight and ran a good race. Russel did a good job and I was glad to see him get the win.”

“He’s been knocking at the door,” added Gaston. “We know what a nice horse Hesa Lil Bit High is.”

Hesa Lil Bit High, a 7-year-old On A High gelding conditioned by Bobby Touchet, won the Live Oak Handicap off a 2-year-layoff. The gray ran a game race under Arturo Puga, who recently won the Retama Park riding title.

“He ran a really good race,” said Touchet. “Both horses are real good horses. Each horse could beat the other on any given day. Heath has a real good horse.”

Defending champion, Ronas Wind Dancer, finished third under Jeff Jerman, followed by My Best of Six, Corona Silver, Im Bionic, Ida Snow Man, Eyes Moving Easy and Azoomer.

Taylor and the Gastons will head off to Delta Downs for tomorrow’s $230,150 Firecracker Futurity. Their colt, Coronas Leaving You, was the fastest qualifier in trials and will be attempting to remain unbeaten in the final. He is a half-brother to Whosleavingwho, winner of the 2002 Champion of Champions.

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Bank of America Texas Challenge Trial Results

Trials were held for two Bank of America Texas Challenge races this evening. Defending champion of last year’s MBNA Texas Challenge Championship, This Snow is Cold, was the fastest qualifier, winning her trial in :21.793. The multiple-stakes winner is trained by Frank Mendez for owners Los Ladrilleros Horse Racing Company. Rider Russel Hadley piloted the 6-year-old This Snow Is Royal mare to her second win of the year, following a five-month break from racing.

The finals of the $118,400 Bank of America Texas Challenge will take place on Saturday, July 14.



Race: BANK OF AMERICA TEXAS CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE-G1
Track: SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Trials: JUNE 30, 2007
Final: JULY 14, 2007
Purse: $100,000-ADDED
Age: 3-YEAR-OLDS & UP
Distance: 440 YARDS

Horse Sex Sire-Dam, Dam Sire Time Owner Breeder Trainer Jockey

This Snow Is Cold m. This Snow Is Royal--Fance Loretta, by Reckless Dash :21.793 Los Ladrilleros Horse Racing Co. Raedale Phipps (TX) Frank Mendez Russel Hadley

Ride With The King g. Apollo (TB)--HighCotton Doll, by On A High :21.853 Javier Marquez Christine Bessent (TX) Alex Villarreal Abdel Torres

Catscape g. Dash Thru Traffic--Princess Of Aspen, by Runaway Winner :21.999 Sunset Well Service, Inc. Gary Wright (CA) Robert Monsivaiz Arturo Puga

This Candys Red Hot c. Leaving Memories--Eye On The Candy, by Mr Eye Opener :22.029 Marilyn and James E. Helzer Carl C. Pevehouse (OK) C. Dwayne Gilbreath Jose Alvarez

Work Work Work g. Chicks Beduino--Sentimentallysweet, by The Signature :22.117 Oscar Ramirez Vessels Stallion Farm, LLC Rodolfo Sanchez Rodrigo Vallejo

Classified Bull c. Bully Bullion--Classy Hurrah, by Last Hurrah :22.222 Wayne Stroud Wayne Stroud (TX) Owner Luis Ramirez

Wild Man Blues g. Chicks Beduino--Follow Her Down, by First Down Dash :22.257 Eliazar Sanchez Roman C.&T. Griffeth/J. Markum (CA) Lascelles Wisdom Santos Carrizales

La Jollaroid h. Streakin La Jolla--Miss Dasheroid, by Some Dasher :22.311 James E. & Marilyn Helzer and Les Horner J.B. Moss Estate (TX) C. Dwayne Gilbreath Jose Alvarez

Heza Two Timing Man g. Heza Fast Man--Waisting No Time, by Streakin Six :22.545 Pedro Alcala Bob and/or Jerry Gaston Shae L. Cox Fidencio Hernandez

Alibis N Nashville m. Sir Alibi--Smashed N Nashville, by Easily Smashed :22.548 Rogelio Rendon Oyana M. Wilson (OK) Mario Rodriquez Rodrigo Vallejo

Trial Notes: This Snow Is Cold won the first of two trials by 1-1/2 lengths over This Candys Red Hot to post the fastest qualifying time.