HOUSTON, TX- Sam Houston Race Park kicked off its 2025 Thoroughbred season on Friday, January 3 and ran the first two stakes of the meet on Saturday afternoon
Patience Paid off for Blingster in the $75,000 Darby’s Daughter
Seven fillies entered the starting gate in the first stakes of the season, the $75,000 Darby’s Daughter at a distance of five and one-half furlongs on the main track. The Texas Thoroughbred Association sponsors the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series (TSSS), a set of races for progeny of nominated Texas-based stallions
It was an impressive performance by Blingster, owned by Landon Jordan of Mansfield Racing and trained Bret Calhoun, the same connections of last year’s champion Too Much Kiki. Blingster, a daughter of Bradestar out of Proud Citizen mare Splendored was bred in Texas by Haynes Stables, LLC & Herman’s Horses, LLC sold for $26,000 at the 2023 TTA Texas Summer Yearling Sale.
Ridden confidently by Jose Alvarez, the bay filly dueled in the early going with Moonlight Glow, gaining momentum mid-way on the turn and drawing off by a margin of four lengths. Her final time, over the fast main track, was 1:06.25.
Longtime assistant Hernan Zamudio, known as “Pancho,” saddled Blingster for Calhoun, who was at Fair Grounds in New Orleans today, but was reached on the phone following the race.
“We liked her early on, but she lacked maturity last summer at Lone Star Park,” said Calhoun.“So we turned her out and reset the goal for her 2025 debut. She was training well, and Jose had her in a comfortable position this afternoon. Pancho was please at how well she settled here at Sam Houston and felt that she was capable of winning today.”
The maiden-breaking victory was her first in four starts, beginning with two races at Lone Star Park and her most effort last month at Remington Park. Edge Chaser, one of two fillies trained by J. R. Caldwell, rallied for second under Rene Diaz, followed by Evening Edge, Tequila Kiss, Stirring Up Dust, Citycityblingbling and Moonlight Glow. Imagoldensong was an early scratch.
Sent off as the second betting choice, Blingster returned $8.60 for the win. Calhoun added that she would be pointed to the $75,000 Bara Lass at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, January 25, one of the five stakes on the Houston Racing Festival card.
The stakes honors Texas-bred Darby’s Daughterwho made her racing debut in 1988, winning two stakes at Louisiana Downs, the Grade 2, Miss Grillo at Aqueduct and the San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar. She retired with an impressive record of five wins from 15 starts and earnings of $435,104.
Heavy Favorite Ring Seeker Scores in the $75,000 My Dandy Earns His First Stakes
The second feature of the program was the running of the $75,000 My Dandy, also at 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.
Ring Seeker trained by Steve Asmussen, who won the 2023 edition of the My Dandy with Blingblingbling, was sent off as the 3-5 choice and did not disappoint as he faced eight rivals in today’s finale. The talented son of top Texas stallion Too Much Bling. Ring Seeker captured both the TTA Stallion Service -Staunch Avenger Division and TTA Sale Futurity last summer at Lone Star Park. Bred and owned by prominent Texan W. S. Farish, the accomplished son of Too Much Bling out of the Competitive Edge mare My Italian Rabbi, followed that with a runner-up finish in the Kip Deville at Remington Park before wrapping his 2-year old campaign with a sixth-place finish in the $10,000 Zia Park Juvenile on November 26.
Sam Houston four-time leading rider Stewart Elliott, who rides first call for Asmussen, had the call and broke alertly, dueled gamely with longshot Mikel W, covering the first quarter mile in :22.33 seconds. It was a competitive stretch duel with Ring Seeker winning by a half-length in 1:05.30.
Ring Seeker improved his record to three wins in five starts and earnings of $205,929.
Pablo Ocampo, who continues to run the Texas operation for Asmussen, saddled Ring Seeker as Asmussen was at Oaklawn Park.
“It is always extremely rewarding to win a Texas Stallion Stakes for Mr. Farish,” said Asmussen. Ring Seeker ran a quality race with a very confident ride by Stewart. He will return in the Groovy.”
Mikel W outran his odds of 17-1, finishing second under jockey Iram Diego after getting loose in the post parade. Trainer Carlos Padilla, who won the 2023 Darby’s Daughter with Stelliot’s Legacy was proud of the runner-up effort by the Bradester gelding.
“We had just schooled him in the paddock and he behaved perfectly,” he explained. “Once the outrider caught him, Iram told me not to worry and he was right!. If he comes out of today’s race without any issues, we will run him in the (Gexa) Groovy (on January 25).”
Tizabling completed the trifecta with David Cabrera in the saddle, followed by Golden Grit, Rocky Rock It, Rags Royal Prinz, Dapilot, Freeway, and Keys Golden Song.
My Dandy was a 1925 Texas-bred foal who boasted a lifetime record of 191 starts with 47 wins and earnings of $137,923. A true “iron horse”, he ran from 1927 to 1935 and in 1930 made 43 starts in a single year.
Nominations for the Houston Racing Festival Close on Saturday, January 11
The Houston Racing Festival, with five stakes races offering over $700,000 in purses, will take place onSaturday, January 25, 1:00 pm (Central) post time. The Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, now in its 13th running, anchors the Houston Racing Festival, which also includes the Listed $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile, $75,000 Bara Lass and $75,000 Gexa Groovy Stakes. Contact stakes coordinatorGreg Thompson at 469-394-6330 to nominate to the Houston Racing Festival.