News and Notes for Feb. 26, 2021

TEXAS CHAMPIONS PREVIEW WEEKEND AT SHRP
There are five $75,000 stakes on tap for Saturday, including the third and final legs of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series for foals of 2018.

Carded as race 6, the Two Altazano division of the TSS has drawn a competitive field of 6 fillies.  The odds-on favorite is the Michael Grossman/Eureka Thoroughbred Farm homebred Star of the North (The Hunk – Always a Star). Trained by Francisco Bravo, she won the Darby’s Daughter division of the TSS by 2 ¼ lengths here on January 30.

Austin Gustafson will saddle Michael & Linda Mazoch’s Thatsalotofbling (Too Much Bling – Benny’s Bombshell). Bred by GFB Racing LLC, she won a 6-furlong maiden claiming race on February 10th by a whopping 11+ lengths and has odds of 3/1.

Completing the field are 10/1 Cosmetology (Bradester – Fear the Facelift); 12/1 Great Affection (Grasshopper – Infectious); 6/1 Swift Red Bird (Grasshopper – Swifterthantaylor); and 9/2 Wink Texas (Too Much Bling – Dixie Miner).

The Jim’s Orbit division of the TSS is carded as race 10 with a talented field of 7 geldings. Karl Broberg will send out 7/5 favorite Carbon Stryker (Crossbow – Whiskey Girl) bred by Randel Ray Riley and owned by Three Feathers Farm.  He won the My Dandy division of the TSS by 2 ¼ lengths here in January.

At 3/1 is Douglas Scharbauer’s homebred Stone Cafe (Stonesider – Santacafe) who finished 2nd in the My Dandy TSS.  He is trained by Bret Calhoun.

Rounding out the field are 10/1 K C Tiz Moro (Moro Tap – Winning Turn); 8/1 Sr. Bi Bi (Too Much Bling – Dixieland Baby); 30/1 Texas Prado (Texas Bling – Kimbell’s Prada); 9/2 Dust Em (Too Much Bling – Dixie Dust); and 6/1 Island Sun (Too Much Bling – Pacific Sunrise).

Race 7 is the Miss Bluebonnet Turf Stakes for ATB fillies and mares, 4 & up going a mile on the turf with a full field of 12. The 3/1 favorite is Ian Yarnot’s homebred multiple stakes winner Corluna (Unbridled’s Heart – Red Moon Cat). Trained by Sarah Delaney, she has a career record of 28-7-5-3 with over $178,000 in earnings.

At 4/1 is multiple stakes winner Shes Our Fastest (Oratory – Dawali). Bred by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, she is trained by Scott Gelner for owners Mark Norman and Norman Stables LLC.  She boasts a career record of 30-8-6-7 and earnings of $347,537.

Providing competition are 6/1 Ima Discreet Lady (Discreet Cat – Ima Three Blinger); 8/1 Sardabling (Too Much Bling – Sardis Lake); 30/1 Averys Miss (Interactif – Itisi); 9/2 Miss Perfecta (Run Away and Hide – Perfect Meadow); 20/1 No Mas Tequila (Northern Afleet – Foxy Boss); 20/1 Gee She Sparkles (Race Day – Pata Fresca); 15/1 Jewel Street (Street Move – Sea Jewel); 12/1 Herbs Love (Etesaal – Totally Vested); 20/1 Heavenly Rhythm (Congaree – Rockintotherhythm) and 15/1 Empressive Reward (Warrior’s Reward – Empressive Humor.

Race 8 is the H-Town Stakes for ATB 4&up going 7 furlongs with a field of 10.  W. S. Farish’s homebred Direct Dial (Too Much Bling – Fast Find) is the 9/5 favorite.  Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle the multiple stakes winner in his first out this year.  The 6-year-old has earned over $386.000.

A 3/1 is Kenai Bob (Shackleford – Blue Ivy), the stakes winner bred by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm and owned by Michael Grossman. Trained by Francisco Bravo, he won his last out here on January 30th. Kenai Bob is also cross-entered in the Houston Turf Stakes.

Completing the field are 20/1 Gunnerscelesticman (Celestic Night – Lady Hi Teck); 9/2 He’s a Suitor (Hat Trick (JPN) – Bluegrass Arch) – also cross-entered in the Houston Turf Stakes; 15/1 Algebra (Algorithms – Lithe); 8/1 He’s So Zazzy (Oratory – Super Delicious); 30/1 Trumps Revenge (I Want Revenge – Cookin’s Cast); 10/1 Gold Pilot (My Golden Song – Formal Flyer); 10/1 Nova Notion (Barely Bridled – Pismo Beach) and 12/1 Bubba Bling (Too Much Bling – My Silver Song).

Race 9 is the Houston Turf Stakes for ATB 4&up going a mile and a sixteenth with a field of 9.    The 6/5 favorite is Sunlit Song (My Golden Song – Fly So True), bred by Carolyn R. Barnett and owned by her in partnership with Becky Harding.  Trained by Mindy Willis, the 6-year-old gelding won his last start here in a mile turf race on January 30th.

Kenai Bob (cross-entered in the H-Town Stakes) is listed at 7/2. At 4/1 is Jim Wessel’s homebred multiple stakes winner Redatory (Oratory – My Silver Song). Trained by Allen Dupuy, he boasts a career record of 24-8-2-0 with earnings of $323,681.

Rounding out the field are 15/1 John Dough (Court Vision – I Am Jane Dough); 8/1 Moojab Jr. (Moojab – Ticket); 12/1 Mucho Dinero (Early Flyer – Won Peso); 30/1 Excalibur Ridge (Ronridge Will – Shesatop Ridge); 10/1 He’s a Suitor (Hat Trick (JPN) – Bluegrass Arch) – also cross-entered in the H-Town Stakes; and Fando (Grasshopper – Milkshake).

Best of racing luck to all!

NOTES: Congrats to Dr. Kenneth Sykes of Fort Worth and to Larry J. Robbins of Bonham, Texas.  By participating in the Texas Trifecta Membership promotion last year, they each won in a drawing for a Lifetime Membership to the Texas Thoroughbred Association… The Texas Racing Commission is scheduled to meet on Monday March 8…Catalogs for the April Texas 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale are at the printer and will be mailing soon. Catalogs are also available for viewing at ttasales.com.