Sam Houston Race Park

BERGHEIM tracked the pace close up three-wide to the turn, moved up to challenge for the lead at the top of the stretch, battled a game RING SEEKER through upper stretch. then drove clear in the final yards. CHAMPAGNE STOOPER was allowed to settle early, raced at the back of the field up the backstretch, navigated an inside path through the turn, came out three-wide for the stretch run, and rallied into second. RING SEEKER Inherited the early lead, then ceded the front to FORT HOOD, settled in a stalking position behind that one, took over the lead on the turn, dueled with BERGHEIM from the quarter pole, then yielded late. FORT HOOD broke well and took over the lead in the initial stages, led the way through the turn, weakened at the quarter pole, then gave way in mid-stretch. BLING MOUNTAIN settled at the back early, chased four-wide up the backstretch, was under a drive from the three-furlong pole, but was unable to improve. TAP TO CONNECT was outpaced early, made a mild move on the turn, then chased the rest through the stretch.

WON MORE TIME was initially two-deep in the thick of the early pace battle, backed out early on the turn, then went four-wide to set up a late run, came five-wide into the stretch, and ran down the leader in the shadow of the wire. THE DEVIL'S BET hopped at the start, then rushed up to join the main pack, went to the front before the turn, responded when set down at the top of the stretch, went a length clear and just failed to last. OLD BOYS CLUB settled at the back of the field, started a forward move on the turn, tried in vain to split horses in upper stretch, altered course to the outside, and surged late to gain the third spot. PINEHURST (IRE) broke on top, then was overtaken by THE DEVIL'S BET before the half, chased that rival to the finish and weakened in the final yards. MAMBRINO raced close up on the inside, finished willingly but lacked a winning kick. DEVIL'S MISCHIEF tracked four-wide close up through the early stages, lost the path and steadied just before the eighth pole, and could not recover in time. UPTOWNEAGLESLANDED pressed the pace four-wide up the backstretch and through the turn, then weakened in the stretch. THERE WAS A STEWARDS INQUIRY INTO THE STRETCH RUN. ALSO THE JOCKEY #7 DEVIL'S MISCHIEF LODGED A CLAIM OF FOUL AGAINST #1 OLD BOYS CLUB ALLEGING INTERFERENCE. AFTER A REVIEW THE CLAIM OF FOUL WAS DISALLOWED AND #3 PINEHURST (IRE), WAS DISQUALIFIED FOR CAUSING THE INTERFERENCE AND PLACED 6TH.

HEAVENVILLE broke outward at the start but was still quickly away, secured the early lead midway through the first turn, continued in front while traveling well to the far turn, then responded when set down in upper stretch and sprinted clear under mild handling.. DIMATIC settled in a stalking position just behind HEAVENVILLE through the early stages, could not go with that one from the quarter pole, gave futile chase through the stretch, and finished well clear of the third horse. TURN NORTH raced between horses in the trio at the back, won the battle for the third spot. KNOCK KNOCK JOKE last early, never threatened but kept to task three-wide and just missed hitting the board. EDIFIED delayed the start when very hard to load, was inside of two other rivals in the trailing group, settled well back then was outfinished in the stretch. NEW TRACK RECORD.

KISS MY DICE hustled away from the gate but was not quick enough to contest the early pace, chased under a drive through the turn, tipped out three wide into the stretch, finished with a strong rally, closed the gap on the leader through the final yards, and was just up at the wire. BLINGSTER hustled away to get a good forward position, tracked the pace to the turn, had to be ridden along as the leading pair pulled away from the rest midway through the turn, kept up the chase through the turn, came out a path into the stretch, took over the lead in upper stretch, drew clear in the late stages, but was nailed at the wire. SCATTERED MISCHIEF raced near the back early, took the inside path through the turn, and kept on late to move up into the third spot. KISSIN RICHES was last away then made a forward move late on the backstretch run to be in third position and two-deep on the turn, loomed a threat approaching the quarter pole, then flattened out in the stretch. TEXAS MOON dropped back after a level start to race near the back into the turn, then lacked a rally. WITT'S LIL RINGER was sent hard from the gate and seized the early lead before going a furlong, shook off an early challenge from SHE'S EXTRA heading into the turn, got a length clear at the quarter pole, led the field into the stretch, but weakend in the final furlong. SHE'S EXTRA was outpaced early despite coaxing from the rider, moved up to contest lead at the half-mile pole but was turned away midway through the turn, dropped back and faltered in the stretch. INDY LA PRIMERA was a little slow to begin, rushed up then steadied in tight quarters before the half-mile pole, went four-wide through the turn, was under a drive and urging past the quarter pole, and faltered in the stretch.

FINAL WAR was unhurried early on then started a rally on the turn, swung out to be four wide in upper stretch and closed with a rush and was up in the final strides. ZORRITOS DASH set the early pace then drew away in upper stretch, was all out in late stretch but was caught at the wire. BRILLIANT PLAN was unhurried early then rallied three wide turning for home, was gaining ground and finished well. TEXAS HUNK chased the early pace while two wide, was used up then gave way in the drive. BUCK O FIVE was allowed to settled while two wide into the turn then failed to menace in the stretch. ONTHETHIRSTYSIDE showed good early speed while two wide, was used up then gave way in the stretch.

PASSED OVER was last up the backstretch but never far back, moved up into contention four-wide late on the turn, then continued the rally through the stretch and went clear in the final yards. CHIEF BROWN hustled away to get the early lead, ceded the front to HOOS FOOS going into the turn, moved out a path on the turn to bid for the lead at the quarter pole, finished up well, but could not hold off the winner in the late stages. HEAT UM UP contested the pace three-wide, loomed a threat mid-stretch but was outkicked. HOOS FOOS rushed up to join the pace battle on the inside, slipped through along the rail to get the lead going into the turn, had a short lead turing for home, but was outfinished in the final yards. BLAME DA INNOCENT took a light bump at the start, pressed the pace four-wide, kept on willingly but flattened a bit in the final yards. FOUR JIM got crowded after the start and shuffled back, chased along the rail, was under a drive from the quarter pole and lacked a finish.

HELLADIC stalked the pace close up for a half-mile, took command leaving the quarter pole, and went clear in the stretch. BERRY MISCHIEVOUS coaxed to the front from the start, took a short lead into the turn, could not match the eventual winner late, but was well clear of the third horse at the finish. ORE MINE hustled away, moved up to stalk the pace three-wide, finished with good interest but could not run down the top two. MY WIFE IS RIGHT outpaced early, advanced three-wide on the turn, and kept on well to improve position. SUPER BRADY broke on top but ceded the front before the turn, steadily dropped back through the turn, tried to come back, but only passed tired foes. HEZAKOOLKAT raced in the middle of the pack along the rail, had every chance turning for home, but could not sustain the bid through the late stages. OOEY GOOEY CHEWY was outrun and trailed throughout.

CHARLIE'S A ROCKIN went to the front and was left along to dictate moderate fractions, rated kindly to the far turn, then widened the gap on the rest late on the far turn, responded asked at the head of the stretch, and drew away under steady handling. SHE'S A KITTEN settled well off the pace for the first half, navigated a clear path through the far turn, came three-wide into the stretch, then rallied to gain the place. LOVE ME SOME CANDY gave futile chase from second position from the outset, kept on well but got passed up late and had to settle for the minor award. SHERRYS RIDGE settled in cover midfield, had a mild late response but was never a serious threat. MAID TO KEEP went three wide through the first turn, maintained that position while racing close up to the far turn, then weakened in the stretch. HOLIDAY CRUISE raced three-wide throughout in the middle of the field and did not produce the needed late response. CHIP ALTERNATIVE settled at the rear of the field early, ran on late to improve, but was never a serious threat. FUND LAVENDER saved ground throughout but lacked a rally. CLEMENTINE GIRL settled far back in last, then lacked a finish. D J DEAL tracked in mid-pack along the rail, then tired in the stretch.

CARIBBEAN DREAM stalked the pace three-wide, took command at the quarter pole, and went clear in the stretch under steady handling. TOM SAWYER broke well, dueled inside of a rival for the early lead, put a head in front passing the three-furlong pole, dug in when confronted by the eventual winner in upper stretch, then stayed on late to save the place. CHIVALROUS raced well off the early pace three-to-four wide, finished with some late interest and moved up to gain the third spot. EL ROJO VIVO tracked in mid-pack four-wide, moved up late on the turn to bid for the lead four-wide but flattened out. ESSENTIAL TIME dropped back after a level start and passed tired rivals in the stretch while mildly gaining. SPECIALSORTASTORM was briefly in front, then dueled outside of TOM SAWYER to the quarter pole and gave way. RAROTONGA was slow into stride and chased throughout.