Sophomore runner Declassified brought home the win here for trainer Mb Stables, following up the victory that trainer had in the earlier Gr. III Connally BC Turf race with Arkenstone. It would be the trainers third win on the day.
- Texas Turf Mile – Purse $200.000
- Sam Houston Race Park- For Three Year Olds
- One Mile in Distance- Turf track
Nothing could be better for the betting public then seeing a difference of less then two tenths of a second between the winner and the sixth place finisher, especially if you had money placed on Declassified.
This race was definitely a nail biter to the very end, as a group of runners would come charging in the final sixteenth of a mile. While Beyond Blue Eyes ( Luz International ) and Commanding Runner ( Nj Vets ) would battle out on the front through the opening two turns, Declassified was comfortable to sit some seven lengths back along the rail as the field made the top of the backstretch. Entering the turn for home, Declassified was literally at the back of the pack some six lengths from new leader Hammerfest ( Smokey Stover ) with a furlong and a half to run, struggling to find an opening. Once one did open as Beyond Blue Eyes slipped from covering the rail, Declassified and rider Johnny V made quick work to get to the front.
While the margin of victory for the 12-1 shot was only a neck ahead of another late runner Ill Have Another ( Gdp Inc. ), this was definitely a sweet victory after looking like is was all said and done at the top of the lane. The win is now Declassified’s third of his career, and his first ever stakes title.
Ill Have Another was fanned some six wide from the rail, but may have found the footing in the center of the track a little more appealing. He has finished in the top three in his past five starts, and that kind of work ethic breeds champions.
From third to sixth place in a tightly contested battle would be Fuji ( Smokey Stover ) who ended in a dead heat with Witch Grinder ( T Boy Racing ) for the show. Fuji has two wins and two show finishes in his four careers starts, while Witch Grinder has now finished in the top three in his past four starts, both runners just a half length shy. Fifth was Lab Cat ( Our Athletes ) who was just three one-hundredth of a second behind the show duo, while Hammerfest finished another five one-hundredth shy of the Cat.
| Race #7 16:00 Texas Turf Mile 1 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.00 Open 3 Year Olds. |
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | ||
| 2 | Declassified | Mb Stables | Velazquez J R | 12.05 | 1nk | 1:38.05 | — | ||
| 3 | Ill Have Another | Gdp Inc | Hernandez R M | 7.15 | 2nk | 1:38.10 | — | ||
| 6 | Fuji | Smokey Stover | Gallardo A A | 5.00 | 3hd | 1:38.16 | — | ||
| 8 | Witch Grinder | T Boy Racing | Lermyte J | 40.35 | 3hd | 1:38.16 | — | ||
| 1 | Lab Cat | Our Athletes | Gaffalione T | 10.05 | 5nk | 1:38.19 | — | ||
| 10 | Hammerfest | Smokey Stover | Cabrera D | 3.85 | 61 | 1:38.24 | — | ||
| 11 | Through The World | Midnight Racing | Bejarano R | 3.30 | 71 | 1:38.48 | — | ||
| 5 | Awaiting | Chili King Stables | Van Dyke D | 7.20 | 81/2 | 1:38.77 | — | ||
| 7 | Beyond Blue Eyes | Luz International | Ortiz I Jr | 49.75 | 93 | 1:38.91 | — | ||
| 4 | Iron Nation | Nakamura Stables | Contreras L | 16.85 | 105 | 1:39.64 | — | ||
| 9 | Commanding Runner | Nj Vets | Luzzi L J | 14.80 | 11 | 1:40.68 | — |
Track: Soft
Time: :24 :482 1:13 1:38
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 2 – Declassified | 26.10 | 15.20 | 12.00 |
| 3 – Ill Have Another | 8.40 | 4.70 | |
| 6 – Fuji | 3.10 | ||
| 8 – Witch Grinder | 14.00 |
$1 Exacta: 2 – 3 Paid 98.00
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 3 – 6 Paid 394.90, 2 – 3 – 8 Paid 394.90
Duffer
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
