News and Notes for October 13, 2017

NEWS AND NOTES FOR OCTOBER 13, 2017

ACCREDITED TEXAS-BREDS IN WEEKEND STAKES
Three  fast Accredited Texas-breds are in the field of 9 for today’s $50,000 E. L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs at Remington Park.

Bart Evans will send out his homebred Evil Ways (Silver City – Earlyish), who won her first out in a 5 ½ furlong maiden special weight at Remington on September 8th by a whopping 5 lengths. She has odds of 5/2.

Bred by Ed Few, Miss Hopper (Grasshopper – My Girl Bess) now runs for Thomas Julian, who purchased the filly at the Texas 2-Year-Old Sale.  Trained by Scott Young, she is coming off a 3-length win in a 6 furlong maiden special weight at Remington on September 21st and has odds of 6/1.

At 9/5 in the morning line, stakes winner Shes Our Fastest (Oratory – Dawali) is a graduate of the 2016 Texas Yearling Sale.  Bred by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, she is trained by Scott Gelner for Mark Norman & Norman Racing Stables.  The filly won the September 2nd  6 furlong Evangeline Downs Princess Stakes by 3 ½ lengths.

On Saturday, Retama Park will conduct the $75,000 El Joven Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings along with the $75,000 M2 Technology La Senorita Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, both going a mile on the turf. 

There are two ATB colts in a field of 12 for the El Joven.  Brent Davidson will send out Steve Baker’s homebred Silver Luke Silver (Too Much Bling – My Lost Silver) who won a 6 furlong maiden special weight here on September 16th. He has odds of 20/1.

Trained by Bret Calhoun, the 5/2 favorite is Douglas Scharbauer’s Sitting Bull (Artie Schiller – Smoldering Beauty) who finished 3rd in the Sunday Silence Stakes at Louisiana Downs on September 9th.  He was bred by Clarence Scharbauer III.

Calhoun and Scharbauer team up again for the La Senorita with 4/1 Howboutthiscowgirl (My Golden Song – Nothinbettertodo), who won an allowance optional claimer at Remington on September 13th.

Eric and Randi Moreau-Sipiere’s homebred Dees Loca Motion (Bullet Train (GB) – Deeloca) is also in the field of 9 for the La Senorita.  Trained by Jerenesto Torrez, she won a 6 furlong maiden special weight at Retama on September 29th by 3 ¾ lengths, and has odds of 15/1.

Call to Action: OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED RULE AMENDMENT
At its September 20 meeting, the Texas Racing Commission approved an amendment to Rule 309.8- Racetrack License Fees, establishing an unfavorable new schedule that drastically increases racetrack license fees. The approved rule amendment will now be published in the Texas Register for 30 days for public comment.

We strongly urge all horsemen and women to write a letter in opposition to such a rule change and send it to the Texas Racing Commission.

The Commission will vote on this issue at its November 8th meeting.

All letters should be sent as soon as possible, via email to: info@txrc.texas.gov or via traditional mail to: Texas Racing Commission, Chairman John Steen, P.O. Box 12080, Austin, TX 78711-2080. 

Click on this link for a sample letter you can use: Sample Letter.  To read the funding proposal that was approved on September 20, click on this link: Texas Racing Commission Funding Proposal – 9/5/17

Please contact the TTA office at 512.458.6133 with any questions.

ONLNE STALLION SEASON AUCTION
The TTA online auction of donated 2018 stallion breedings will open on October 18th.  If you would like to donate a season, contact Mary Ruyle at 512.458.6133.

NOTES: Mark your calendars for the October 21 Roses to Ribbons event at Retama Park.  Contact Tracy Sheffield at 512.395.5314 if you have a Thoroughbred looking for a new career… Retama Park’s annual Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala will be conducted at 5pm on Saturday, October 21st. Inductees include Steve Asmussen, O. C. “Preacher” O’Quinn, Steve Sexton, Johnny Trotter, and Terry Blanton, along with horses Creole Dancer and Ochoa.  Call Ryan Grammer at 210.651.7045 for tickets.