ACCREDITED TEXAS-BREDS IN WEEKEND STAKES
There are 11 in the field for the $50,000 Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes for Accredited Texas-bred fillies and mares, 3-years old and up going 7 ½ furlongs on the turf at Lone Star Park on Saturday.
Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s homebred 4-year-old filly Zippit E (My Golden Song – Final Trick) is the 3/1 favorite. Trained by Bret Calhoun, she has not lost a race in more than a year. Her most recent stakes wins were in the $50,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial at Lone Star on April 23 and the $50,000 Yellow Rose at Houston in March.
Mindy Willis will saddle 7/2 Texas Belle (Angliana – Inthemiddleofitall) for owner Richard P. Chandler. Bred by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, the 5-year-old was third in her last out, an allowance optional claiming race on May 29th at Lone Star.
Karl Broberg will send out Gentle Secret (Gentlemen (ARG) – Frosty Secretary) for his End Zone Athletics, Inc. Bred by Pat Riley, Jr. the 6-year-old’s last win was a 5-length win in a May 19th claiming race. She has odds of 4/1.
Completing the field are 20/1 Beta Baby (Beta Capo – Happiest Memories); 20/1 Celebrity’s Gift (Eaton’s Gift – Celebrity Ball), 30/1 Fancy Ticket (Even the Score – Deputy G.G.), 12/1 Gold Shock (My Golden Song – Shocktime), 15/1 Jolie Mon (Too Much Bling – Julie Mon), 9/2 My Master Plan (Oratory – One O Seven), 15/1 Soul Affair (Grasshopper – Mimi’s Affair); and 12/1 Special Rockstar (Special Rate – Buckstar).
This is the 6th annual renewal of the race, previously known as the Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship Stakes. Upon the closing of Lane’s End Texas, owner W. S. Farish wanted to change the name to honor long-time farm manager Danny Shifflett of Waller, TX.
TTA ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS TO BE HELD JUNE 24TH
The TTA Annual Membership Meeting will be at 4:30pm on Saturday in the Dash for Cash Room at Lone Star Park, followed by a cocktail hour at 5pm and the Awards Banquet at 6pm. During the awards ceremonies, the Texas Champion “Horse of the Year” and the owners and breeders of the champions of each racing division will be honored, along with the recipients of the Allen Bogan Memorial Award for TTA Member of the Year and the T. I. “Pops” Harkins Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Live and silent auctions will be conducted, with proceeds to benefit the Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund and The Paddock Foundation.
Auction items include artwork, jewelry, equine theme home décor, books, a 6-seat box at Gillespie County Fair Grounds for racing on August 12-13, use of a suite at Lone Star Park with appetizers, buffet and open bar for 25 people, and more.
Tickets are available at the door. For more information, call the TTA office at 512.458.6133.
NOTES: Kentucky Downs will offer wagers this year based on how jockeys perform in the final seven races on the card and that betting will benefit injured riders… Churchill Downs racetrack plans to add a $50-$60 million historical racing venue at its nearby Trackside training track property, and Churchill Downs Inc. plans to produce those historical racing machines.