FORMER CLAIMER AND LONGSHOT TEXAS LONG BOW WINS THE $50,000 WAYNE HANKS MEMORIAL SUNDAY
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Sunday, June 23, 2019) – What a great claim trainer Michael Whitelaw made for owner Tyree J. Wolesensky earlier this month! They picked up Texas Long Bow here on June 1 for a $10,000 tag and turned him around for his first stakes win in the $50,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial today. What a bargain!
Winning rider Iram Diego hustled the 4-yr-old Texas-bred son of Crossbow to the lead, setting a pressured pace with Rumpole breathing down his neck on the outside. He lost the lead briefly at the three sixteenths, but dueled gamely to prevail by a nose. Settling for place was multiple stakes winning, Rumpole. It was an impressive effort for coming off of a sizeable layoff. His last start was in November.
Final time for the six and one half furlong contest was 1:17.77. Fractions throughout 22.45, 45.35 and 1:10.88. The main track was listed as fast.
Mutuel payoffs were, for the winner $45.20, 18.80 and 9.00. For place players got back $6.80 and 4.60. A M Milky Way was third and returned $6.60 for show wagers. Favorite Direct Dial was fourth followed by Supermason, Kats Second Silver, Trumps Revenge and Don’t Blame Dexter.
The win was worth $30,000 for Texas Long Bow which put his career total at $64,751. It was his fourth win from eight career starts.
TRAINER SARAH DELANY SCORES FIRST STAKES WIN TODAY FOR CORLUNA AND HERSELF IN THE $50,000 LANE’S END G
Ian Yarnot’s Corluna grabs the victory in the $50,000 Lane’s End Danny Shifflet Scholarship Stakes Sunday. It was the first career stakes win for Corluna and for her trainer Sara Delany. Delany has waited for this since 2012, the first year she started her training career. She couldn’t have been more thrilled!
Corluna – Lane’s End Danny Shifflet Scholarship Photo: Dustin Orona
Corluna, a 4-yr-old filly by Unbridled’s Heart had raced here previously four times over the past few years and had only managed one second place finish. She was obviously ready today getting up for the win over a field of 9. Corluna crossed the wire in 1:28.44 in the seven and one half furlong race over a firm turf course. Fractions were 23.79, 47.05 and 1:10.53.
Winning rider Richard Eramia did his homework. This was his first time to ride the filly. He said, “I watched the replay last night (of her last race) and I saw all the time she was close but she never finished really good. Today I took her back and made one run (at the leader) and it worked perfect.” Indeed it did!
“It’s really cool,” said trainer Sarah Delany on her first stakes win. “And I got to win at Lone Star Park, so it’s super exciting!”
Delany has trained at all four Texas tracks and the Louisiana circuit as well.
Corluna paid $11.40, $5.60 and 3.40. Shes Our Fastest ran second and paid $4.80 and $3.20. Discreet Smile finished third and paid $4.00. Fourth went to Texas Belle followed by (in order) Sing Prada Sing, Ima Discreet Lady (favorite), True Confession, Seven Violets and Ardennes. Zarelda was scratched from the race.
The win today was the sixth for Corluna from 19 career starts, and with the $30,000 winner’s share, her career bankroll is now $92,024.
IT’S MY MONEY AND MORO SAID READY ARE WINNERS OF THE $65,000 DIVISIONAL TEXAS STALLION STAKES
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Sunday, June 23, 2019) – The Divisional Texas Stallion Stakes for 2-yr-olds are in the books. It was It’s My Money taking the prize in the $65,000 Pan Zareta Division for fillies. The $65,000 Staunch Avenger Division for colts and geldings was won by Moro Said Ready. Both divisions were contested on the main track at five furlongs.
It’s My Money Texas Stallion Stakes Pan Zareta Div. Photo: Dustin Orona
The Pan Zareta ran with a short field of four after the scratch of Hottie Dottie. Jockey Lane Luzzi sent It’s My Money right to the lead to set the pace and never relented. The filly by Early Flyer was determined today in her debut, holding off favorite Dust a Flying who was pressing her all of the way.
Trained by George R. Bryant and owned by Don Leach and Andrew Moran, It’s My Money ran the five furlong race in 1:00.14 behind fractions of 22.61 and 47.04. The track was listed fast.
“She’s been really impressive in the morning,” said winning rider Lane Luzzi. “A few works out of the gate you know I knew she had some speed. Being a first time starter from the rail is never easy, but when she broke sharp, I just put her in a good position. The speed’s been holding up all day, it was pretty easy.”
Luzzi did make it look easy. What a nice debut win for her connections.
The short field caused the cancellation of place and show wagering. It’s my Money returned $8.20 for a $2 win wager. Dust a Flying held on for place followed by Oklahoma Gold and Tell Me You Love Me.
In the Staunch Avenger Division, winner Moro Said Ready and favorite Good Judgement both broke perfect and both went to the front with Moro Said Ready gaining a slight lead of just a head. It was a duel all of the way to the final sixteenth between the two until Moro Said Ready kicked in to win it by 3 lengths.
Moro Said Ready – Texas Stallion Stakes Staunch Avenger Div. Photo: Dustin Orona
A final time of 58.73 was recorded for the five furlong race. Fractions were 22.10 and 45.54.
At odds of 36.70-1, Moro Said Ready returned $75.40, $18.80 and $7.40. The win payout was a record high for the meet. Good Judgement weakened late, but was able to hold on for place returning $2.80 and $2.20. Luckenbacher was third and paid $3.20. Gold Pilot was fourth followed by Wonders of Hislove, Café Gold, Clamarator and Colonel Bowie.
Winning connections were trainer, J. R. Caldwell, owners Penn Family Racing and Kevin Clifton and jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez.
