LSP TB MEET CLOSES

LONE STAR MEET CLOSES WITH STARS OF TEXAS DAY

Lone Star Park on Saturday wrapped up its Thoroughbred meet with Stars of Texas Day featuring a quartet of stakes worth more than $300,000.

Lasting Bubbles * Photo by Dustin Orona Photography

The stakes action kicked off with the $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes for Texas-bred fillies and mares, and Judy Peek’s homebred Lasting Bubbles captured the event for the second year in a row. Ridden by Chris Rosier for trainer Kevin Peek, Lasting Bubbles scored a convincing three-length victory as the 9-10 favorite. The 6-year-old daughter of Pulling Punches covered six furlongs in 1:09.98. This was the fifth career stakes win for Lasting Bubbles and improved her lifetime record to 23-9-6-1 with earnings of $295,581.

Joey Keith Davis’ Molly’s Honour, who defeated Lasting Bubbles earlier in the meet in the grassy Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship Stakes, finished a clear second with Nurse Goodnight in third for owner Danny Keene.

Vivian Da Bling * Photo by Dustin Orona Photography

In the fillies division of the $98,100 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity, Louisiana-bred Vivian Da Bling romped to an easy 6 ¼-length victory under jockey Cliff Berry. Trained by Bret Calhoun and owned by JRita Young Thoroughbreds LLC, the daughter of Lane’s End Texas stallion Too Much Bling was sent off as the 1-5 favorite after breaking her maiden at Lone Star by 9 ½ lengths in her debut. Bred by Channon Farm LLC, the filly sold for $40,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Texas Yearling Sale from the consignment of Inside Move Inc., agent. The filly, who dashed five furlongs in :58.13, has already banked $70,740.

Douglas Scharbauer’s Santacafe, a filly by Valor Farm stallion Early Flyer also trained by Calhoun, got up for second. Larry Hirsch and Wayne Sanders’ Red Phone, by Valor Farm stallion Jet Phone, took third to give Calhoun a sweep of the trifecta.

W V Jetsetter * Photo by Dustin Orona Photography

Calhoun struck again in the $103,180 colts and geldings division as Wes Melcher’s W V Jetsetter, by Jet Phone, scored an 8-1 upset under Jamie Theriot. The Texas-bred colt clocked five furlongs in :58.11. Bred by the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr., owner of Valor Farm where Jet Phone stands, W V Jetsetter came into the race off a maiden win at Lone Star and has now earned $75,868 in three starts. He sold for $29,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Texas Yearling Sale from the consignment of Beth Bayer, agent.

Bronce-Plamat Stables and MTZ Racing’s Nublado Bling, by Too Much Bling, closed strongly to get second. Brad Raney’s Unbridled Kid, by Louisiana stallion Songandaprayer, took third.

Texas Bling * Photo by Dustin Orona Photography

The $50,000 Assault Stakes for older Texas-breds going a mile had a fitting ending as Texas Bling and Texas Air battled it out in the stretch. At the wire, Hall’s Family Trust’s homebred Texas Bling prevailed by three-quarters of a length to give Texas stallion Too Much Bling his second stakes winner on the card. Trained by Danele Durham and ridden by Lone Star’s leading jockey David Cabrera, Texas Bling traveled the distance in 1:38.21. This marked the first stakes win for Texas Bling since he scored a 128-1 upset in the $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes as a 2-year-old in 2012. His record now stands at 25-4-3-2 with earnings of $338,327.

Paul Rigali Jr.’s homebred Texas Air, by Texas City, pushed his bankroll to $167,119 with the runner-up finish. Tom Durant’s homebred Hang Cool, by Touch Tone, finished third in his stakes debut.