News and Notes for August 3, 2018

TEXAS-BRED STAKES ON TAP THIS WEEKEND AT RETAMA PARK
On Saturday, there is a field of 8 in the $50,000 Fiesta Mile for ATB fillies and mares, carded as race 3.  The 5-2 favorite is multiple stakes winner Zippit E (My Golden Song – Final Trick), bred and owned by Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. The 5-year-old mare’s last win was in the $50,000 Lanes End Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes at Lone Star Park on June 23rd. Trained by Bret Calhoun, she has a career record of 18-7-4-2 with $206,891 in earnings.

Last year’s Fiesta Mile winner Special Rockstar (Special Rate – Buckstar) is owned and trained by Mindy Willis. Bred by Star Bright Thoroughbreds, the 6-year-old stakes winner is coming off a 4th place finish in the Lanes End Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes.  She has been given odds of 7-2.

Danny Pish will saddle stakes placed San Antonio Stroll (Stroll – Twenty Three Red) for breeder Cliff Love, who owns the 4-year-old filly with his wife Michele. San Antonio Stroll won her last out in an allowance at Lone Star on July 13 and has odds of 9-2.

Jose Luis Espinoza’s homebred Sexy Dance (Voyagers Quest – Sexy Saint) is coming off a win in a mile claimer at Lone Star on July 14th.  With odds of 6-1, the 5-year-old mare is trained by Jerenesto Torrez .

Rounding out the field are Corluna (Unbridled’s Heart – Red Moon Cat); Deeya’s Bling (Too Much Bling – Deeya Maria); Mighty Ferrari (Special Rate – Hermighty); and Texas Belle (Angliana – Inthemimddleofitall).

Carded as race 6, the $50,000 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes has a field of 9 going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf Saturday night, led by 2-1 favorite Bonjour Baby (Sing Baby Sing – Secret Sweep).  Bred by Tom Durant, the 5-year-old gelding runs for Alvin Wong and is trained by Johnny Johnston. His last win was in the Houston Turf Stakes on February 18th.

Jerenesto Torrez will saddle Jose Luis Espinoza’s homebred Moojab Jr (Moojab – Ticket). The multiple stakes placed 4-year-old gelding finished second in last year’s edition of this race and has odds of 7-2.

At 9-2 is stakes placed Gottherightonebaby (Sing Baby Sing – Foxy Jill), owned by trained by Karen Jacks.  The 6-year-old gelding was bred by Tom Durant.

Sunlit Song (My Golden Song – Fly So True) was bred by Carolyn Barnett, who owns the 3-year old gelding in partnership with Becky Harding. His last win was in a mile turf allowance at Lone Star on June 22.  He has odds of 6-1 and is trained by Mindy Willis.

Completing the field are F J Uncle Vic (Uncle Abbie – Let Her Reign); Gavin (Improper Again – Proud Carmela); Jamars Whitegold (Memories Last – Platiada Whitegold); Jim’s Eagle (Fearless Eagle – Bumfoojalum); and Special Praise (River Squall – With Praise).

DIGITAL FOAL CERTIFICATES
All breeders, owners and trainers should be aware that beginning with foals of 2018, only digital foal certificates will be used.  Take advantage of the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the process of applying for and transferring digital certificates at a free seminar hosted by TTA and The Jockey Club.  The seminar is scheduled for 10:30am – noon in the Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park on Sunday, August 26.  RSVP to maryr@texasthoroughbred.com or to 512.458.6133.

NOTES: The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala is slated for 5pm on Saturday at Retama Park.  Inductees include Tom Durant, Jim Helzer, Julianna Hawn Holt, Corey Johnsen, and Chaplain Mike Bingaman, along with horses Bold Venture and One Famous Eagle…Due to the brevity of the Retama Park Thoroughbred meet, there will be no Roses to Ribbons event (for rehoming off-track Thoroughbreds) this year.  The next Roses to Ribbons Old Fashioned Horse Fair will be held in March at Sam Houston Race Park.  We encourage everyone to check out CANTER Texas – a good resource for those needing to advertise or looking to purchase an off-track Thoroughbred.