Connally BC Turf
$200.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward
1 1/2 Miles – Turf
Sam Houston Race Park – January 24, 2026

Methylene Blue? Creatine? Ambrosia and nectar? What is in Penal Hockey Party’s feed tub? Ponce de Leon couldn’t find the Fountain of Youth  but Maxmillion Farm and Penal Hockey Party apparently have and I would like some of it! Actually a lot of it. Preview pick Dragon was scratched presumably due to the yielding track but the surface didn’t stop veteran Penal Hockey Party from beginning his season with a resounding resurgence in form.

Winner: Penal Hockey Party (Maxmillion Farm/F. Wethey Jr.) Penal Code/Americanhockeyparty (Boards Dont Hit Back) He spent much of the race in the cat bird seat behind a three way pace duel and he was pulling on the bit like a sprightly three year old wanting to go. Given his head with a half mile to go he moved boldly going into the final turn and when he took the lead near the top of the stretch there was not much suspense to be had. He won by a half length over a gritty Central Hawkes Bay. We said in the preview that it would be nice to see him regain his best form and it was. 

Second: Central Hawkes Bay (Czech Out Farms/D.L. Parker) Hautope/Sunset Flash (Cherokee Sunset) Quick out of the gate quickly he was immediately engaged by the expected speed of both Suave and Carve. Those three battled on the lead most of the way. With a half mile to go the other two began to give way but Central Hawkes Bay never got a breather as he was quickly challenged by the winner. Although he battled grittily throughout the stretch he could not hold off or mount a final challenge to the winner. 

Third: Lord Cherokee (Threshold/A. Fresu) Pirate Dreams/Cherokee Flash (Cherokee Sunset) Sat with the trailing pack and led those about seven lengths back through the first mile. Quickly gained ground when he made his move but had to go wide around fading pacesetters. Was moving fastest of all at the end but ran out of time to seriously threaten the first two. 

Fourth: Sunshine Superman (Barcelona Farms/D. Cabrera) Sunshine Scooter/Manny Colors (General Assembly) Was taken well back to trail by as much as ten lengths and that was just too much too ask in the end. He became my default pick with the scratch of Dragon and you can’t help feel that he has more to show and will fare better down the road. 

This win marks Penal Hockey Party’s first stakes win since September 2024 and his eight stakes win over his illustrious career that has now seen him bank $4.350.610.  It is the third Connally BC Turf win for Maxmillion Farm. I am told that when you get older you have good days and bad days. This was a very good day for the seven year old veteran gelding and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here and if he can hold the form he showed today and put together a season of old. 

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded