TX Stallion Stakes – Avenger
$75.00 For Colts And Geldings Two Years Old Foaled in TX
5 Furlongs – Dirt
Lone Star Park – July 11, 2026

Having a two year old you think has talent is exciting and at the top of the stretch in the Avenger every owner/trainer who had enough faith to enter their horse in this two year old stakes race must have felt that excitement. It seemed like every horse at that point could be in the mix and have a legitimate shot to nab an early career stakes win and ignite some bigger dreams. At the finish line there was only one winner though and that was Fold Em from Luz International. That barn continues to dominate the TX bred scene and showed that via their first, third and fourth finish on Saturday.

Winner: Fold Em (Luz International/D. Cabrera) Rancor/Dealer Has Blackjack (Roebuck) Broke on top and led to the far turn when he let Electric French surge and lead them to the top of the stretch where Fold Em took the lead. He never relinquished it and led to the wire although Resist Power was threatening late.

Second: Resist Power (T Boy Racing/L.J. Luzzi) Solar Power/Resistant (Niagra) Rated nicely just off the leading group and looked to make his move at when they entered the stretch but was forced to play the racing room lane shuffle for a couple of beats before he found clear running and just missed getting up to the winner. 

Third: Knuckleball (Luz International/F. Wethey Jr.) Curveball/Courtney On My Mind (Candlestick) He took full advantage of his rail draw and a good break and ran with the leader before giving way to that one a bit in the stretch. Ran strongly enough to the wire to hold third.

Fourth: Scherzer (Luz International/J.L. Alvarez) Z Grayte One/Royal Summer (Bronx  Bomber) Ran the same race as Fold Em and Knuckleball but had the disadvantage of running wider throughout and weakened a little more as a result. 

Preview Pick: Electric Scooter finished a non-threatening sixth but throw out this race. What I thought would be an advantageous running style in this race was undoing as he never found room until very late and was obviously full of run. 

Luz International has now won this race three times in the last four years and has notched four Avenger wins overall. This was the first time jockey D. Cabrera has won this race and it is the first stakes win for Fold Em who remains undefeated in two lifetime starts and now has earnings of $49.80 from those two wins.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded