TEXAS CHALLENGE FINALS AT SAM HOUSTON

COURTESY OF STALLIONESEARCH.COM


Ride WIth The King and his winning
connections enter the Bank of
America win circle.
Photo by Coady Photography/Jack Coady


Bank Of America Photo Finish Fit For King

SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK—July 15, 2007— Ride With the King surged at the wire to deny This Snow Is Cold a repeat title in the $106,560 Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship (G1) on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.
The 7-year-old gelding, owned by Javier Marquez of Monahans, was the second-fastest qualifier in trials June 30. It was a photo finish, but the bay son of Apollo-TB was declared the winner, stopping the clock of the 440-yard feature in 21.793 seconds.

"We had a little trouble with the 1 horse (This Candy's Red Hot) trying to flip in the gates," said winning rider Abdel Torres. "My horse stood so perfectly and then just fired at the end."

The Texas-bred gelding was making the 25th start of his career for trainer Alex Villarreal, and his winner's share of the purse, $53,280, was his largest to date.

He rewarded his backers with a payout of $17.40 and was followed to the wire by This Snow Is Cold and Catscape.

In a dead heat for the fourth position, La Jollaroid and Classified Bull finished in 22.008.

A downpour hit the northwest Houston racetrack early in the evening, but nothing could dampen the effort of Snowy Alibi as he powered from the far outside post to win the $67,680 Bayer Legend Texas Derby Challenge (G3).

The 3-year-old This Snow Is Royal colt owned by D.D. Lightsey of Caldwell and conditioned by Janet Van Bebber completed the 400-yard stakes in 19.913, returning a scant $3.20 to the betting public but eliciting a wealth of praise from his owner, trainer and jockey.

"He was so easy to ride," said winning jockey Roy Baldillez. "I just knew I had to stay with him and let him do his job. He's a nice colt."

The bay colt was purchased at the Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale for $38,000, and with Saturday night's win increased his career bankroll to $353,610. It was the first time Baldillez had ridden Snowy Alibi.

"I know Roy has ridden for a number of years and is known for his patience," Van Bebber said.

A Special Stoli, a colt by Stoli, ran second by a neck and Check on Chico completed the trifecta. Snowy Alibi will make his next start in the Sam Houston Derby on Sept. 8, the closing night of the Sam Houston meet.

In earlier action, Mr Step Ahead ($30.20) was the upset winner in the $23,220 Fort Dodge Texas Claiming Challenge; fastest qualifier Big Bad N Brown ($4.20) prevailed in the $26,235 Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge (G3); and Shake 'Em Fever ($9.60) exploded from the gate to win the $35,370 John Deere Texas Distaff Challenge (G3).

Each winner will advance to the national finals Nov. 3 at Los Alamitos in California.

This was an amazing race - I don't know if TSIC ever saw King close on the outside...I hated to see her get beat but at the same time, it is nice to see a 7yo gelding running with great company...

COURTESY OF AQHA.COM

KING BEATS SNOW BY A HEAD AT SAM HOUSTON

July 16, 2007 – Sent to post at odds of 7-1, second-fastest qualifier Ride With The King earned his first stakes victory in the July 14, $106,560 Bank of America Texas Challenge (G1) at Sam Houston Race Park. Ridden by Abdel Torres for owner Javier Marquez of Monahans, Texas, Ride With The King went 440 yards in :21.793, and his winning margin was a head from odds-on favorite, fastest qualifier and four-time Grade 1 winner This Snow Is Cold. The win was the 7-year-old gelding’s eighth in 25 starts.


“It was unbelievable beating that mare,” said trainer Alex Villarreal, referring to This Snow Is Cold. “Our horse finished so strong, and he’s come a long way. We’re just so excited about the win.”


Bred by Christine Bessent of San Saba, Texas, Ride With The King became the 19th stakes winner from 199 American Quarter Horse starters sired by Apollo (TB), a 19-year-old son of Falstaff (TB) whose nine crops include champions Old Habits and Apollitical Time. The gelding’s dam, High Cotton Doll, is a winning daughter of the Dash For Cash stallion On A High who has produced eight winners from nine starters.


The $53,280 winner’s share of the Bank of America Texas Challenge purse boosted Ride With The King’s earnings to $113,036. The victory also earned the gelding a berth in the November 3, $300,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos.


The race was delayed by an equipment problem with This Candys Red Hot, a delay that This Snow Is Cold’s jockey, Russel Hadley, felt affected his mare.


“I think the delay in the gate had an impact on her run,” said Hadley. “She was ready to break, and she ran fast her first 100 yards like she usually does. But the last part of the race she didn’t run very well.”


Catscape ran second and was followed by La Jollaroid, Classified Bull, Wild Man Blues, Work Work Work, This Candys Red Hot, Alibis N Nashville and Heza Two Timing Man...