FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 25, 2006
CONTACT DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY AND MEDIA RELATIONS
SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
281-807-8771

ARABIAN TRIPLE CROWN ACTION IN TEXAS!
March 25, Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park hosted two Grade III Arabian stakes races this evening, as part of the esteemed Arabian Triple Crown, which began at Los Alamitos and will conclude at Delaware Park.

Tour De France has an impressive win in the Texas Six Shooter

The $43,600 Texas Six Shooter attracted a highly competitive field of eight colts and geldings, including Frynge Benefit, who captured the first leg of the Arabian Triple Crown, the $100,000 Drinkers of the Wind Derby at Los Alamitos. However, it was the local favorite, Tour De France, who responded beautifully to rider Larry Taylor and drew off for the victory.

photo by Jack Coady/Coady Photography: TOUR DE FRANCE

Trained by Jernesto Torrez for the ownership of Southern Arabian Racing, Tour De France was an impressive winner in an allowance prep on February 23, again, drawing off to win by eight lengths. Taylor had to steady the Florida-bred colt as he ducked in leaving the shoot of the seven-furlong stakes, but at the top of the stretch, he was much the best, crossing the wire in a final time of 1.33.66.

"Jernesto told me that once I got to the 5 16th pole, that no matter if I was behind or in front, to ride the horse," said Taylor. "He got right into the bit and I just had to hold on. He was the best horse in the race."

"He was against the best 4-year-olds in the country tonight," acknowledged Loren Nichols, one of the owners from Ocala, Florida. "We bred this horse and raised him; his sire stands in Europe, so it is a nice victory for us. "It's especially nice for us to welcome a whole new group to Arabian racing. They're having fun and it's great for them. It's a big night for us."

Thoroughbred ran second under William Hollick.

"He's still a little green; very babyish," said Hollick. "I am looking forward to my next tour with him, and he'll be better. He may be headed towards the opener at Delaware Park."

"My horse got a little bit tired," said rider Alex Bettia of Frynge Benefit, who ran third. "I tried to catch the winner, but seven furlongs might have been a little too far for him."

Tour De France, send off as the second betting choice, paid $7.80 to win. The 4-1 exacta returned $49.20 and the 4-1-2 trifecta paid $125.20. Maxisumus, Ordained, Thernonuclear, Callies Rapido and Sand Spur completed the order of finish.

Cath remains undefeated winning the Texas Yellow Rose

Fillies took to the racetrack in the $40,800 Texas Yellow Rose and Cath, owned, bred and trained by Bill Waldron, remained undefeated, winning her fifth in a row and third graded stakes. Sam Houston Race Park leading rider Quincy Hamilton had the mount and guided the daughter of Burning Sand to the wire in a final time of 1:37.28.

photos by Jack Coady/ Coady Photography: CATH

Hamilton sent the gray filly to the lead and she had an easy trip for the first half-mile. Rider Larry Taylor surged to her outside aboard Cou De Ta and briefly took the lead before Cath dug in and went on for the victory.

"She's a really gutsy filly," commented Hamilton. "The other filly (Cou De Ta) came to us on the outside and got a head in front, but she dug in really hard. She responded and Mr. Waldron had her really fit."

"She's five for five," said Waldron. "She's an extraordinary filly. Her sire, Burning Sand is a wonderful horse; we have several nice horses by him. She will make her next start at Delaware Park."

Taylor, who scored the win in the Texas Six Shooter, had to settle for second aboard Cou De Ta, trained by Jernesto Torrez.

"I thought we had it," said Taylor. "We just got out there and she ducked out. I think she'll probably run with blinkers on next time and she'll do better, but she did good."

Sent off as the heavy favorite, Cath paid $3.20 to win. Cou De Ta ran second and Bonnett, also trained by Waldron, was third. Completing the order of finish were Theatre, Sandytiki, Key Finder, Dixies Chick, Loup Du Loup and Tu Awesum.