Fab Oak Stable, Bobby Hurley and John Goldthorpe’s STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe) rallied to the lead in
midstretch and drew clear for a 1 1/2-length decision in Monday’s $150,000
Pin
Oak Stud USA S., the first of six stakes races on Lone Star Park’s Memorial Day
program. Trained by Patrick Biancone and ridden by Julien Leparoux, the
three-year-old colt didn’t disappoint his many supporters at 3-5, returning
$3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 after completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:46 4/5 over the
yielding turf, and notched his fourth stakes victory in his seventh career
start.
Minstrel Runner (Anet) broke on top and set splits in :24 2/5 and :50 1/5
before giving way to Wait in Line (Line in the Sand), who led through
three-quarters in 1:14 4/5. Stream Cat saved ground from his rail post after
bumping a rival at the start, stalking the pace in fourth before beginning to
advance on the far turn. Wait in Line proved resilient on the lead in upper
stretch, but Stream Cat eventually wore his rival down and began to draw away.
Wait in Line held the place at 7-1, 1 3/4 lengths better than Aver (Pine Bluff),
who was disqualified from third to sixth by the stewards for interference at the
start. More Than Regal (More Than Ready) wound up being elevated to third and
was followed under the wire by Minstrel Runner and Desert Wheat (Wheaton), who
never fired after being shut off by Aver and clipping heels following the break.
Now 7-4-0-1 with $313,828 in earnings, Stream Cat broke his maiden when
capturing the grassy With Anticipation S. in his second outing and captured the
Kentucky Cup Juvenile (G3) over the Polytrack next out. Following a third in the
Breeders’ Futurity (G1), the dark bay colt rounded out his two-year-old season
with an eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Biancone switched the colt
back to his preferred surface and Stream Cat opened 2006 with a neck score in
the Crown Royal American Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 5. The
Kentucky-bred is unbeaten in
three turf attempts.
In the $100,000
Stonerside S. for three-year-old fillies, Pin Oak Stable’s
homebred BROWNIE POINTS (Forest Wildcat) rallied boldly up the rail to nip Sweet
Idea (Langfuhr) by a head for her third stakes win. Rating near the back of the
11-horse field during the early stages, the Donnie Von Hemel runner was blocked
at the top of the stretch but regained her momentum under Luis Quinonez to post
a thrilling victory in the final strides. The 3-2 favorite paid $5, $3.60 and
$2.80 after getting seven furlongs over the sloppy track in 1:24 2/5.
Out of the multiple stakes-placed Stylish Society (Forty Niner), the
Kentucky-bred filly captured the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park this year
and also took the 2005 running of the Cimarron S. She’s placed in three
black-type events, including a third in the Fantasy S. (G2). Brownie Points has
now earned $175,350 from a 9-4-2-1 line. Sweet Idea finished second at 24-1 and
was trailed under the wire by Kalyrra (Chester House), Trick’s Pic (Favorite
Trick), Annie Savoy (Langfuhr), Open Meadows (Open Forum), Beholden (Cat Thief),
Dancing Delilah (Traitor), White She Devil (Vicar), Prahtheta (Slew You) and
Princess Patricia (Aptitude).
The $100,000
Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint H. featured a big upset as Carl
David Pleasant’s SWEEPINGLY (End Sweep) knocked off prohibitive 2-5 favorite Man
of Illusion (Aus) (Encosta de Lago) by a half-length. Dismissed at 22-1, the
Chris Hartman trainee led wire to wire, turning splits in :22 and :45 1/5 en
route to finishing five grassy furlongs in :57 4/5. Racing for only a $10,000
claiming tag three starts back and exiting an $18,000 claiming victory on the
main track, the seven-year-old gelding improved his overall record to 27-8-5-4,
with $184,905 in earnings. Alfredo Juarez Jr. guided the Florida-bred to his
first stakes score.
Man of Illusion, who was making his third U.S. start following a third in the Shakertown S. (G3) and a
win in the Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3), edged Charming
Socialite (Sunny’s Halo) by a half-length for the place. Crystal Castle (Gilded
Time) took fourth and next came Greggo (Smart Strike), Oncearoundtwice
(Prospector’s Music), Savonarola (GB) (Machiavellian) and That Tat (Faltaat).
J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s RED LIFESAVER (Victory Gallop) closed with a rush
to capture the $100,000 Valid Expectations S. over six furlongs. The Steve Asmussen-trained mare caught pacesetter True Tails (Yes It’s True) in the final
jump to win by a neck under Quinonez, stopping the timer in 1:11 4/5 and
registering her second stakes win in the process. The five-year-old now shows an
overall mark of 31-8-10-4, $324,562.
Sent off the 7-1 fourth choice in the 10-horse field, the Kentucky-bred
winner is out of the stakes-placed Brush with Tequila (Broad Brush). True Tails,
who maintained a clear lead until shortening her stride in midstretch, easily
held the place over third placer Cookin’s Cast (Fashion Find). Trolley’s Last (Fusaichi
Pegasus), Ketchmewhereyoucan (Distorted Humor), Tawnka (Stormy Atlantic), Follow
the Lite (Lite the Fuse), Angel Baby (Jade Hunter), and G G’s Dolly (Comic
Strip) rounded out the order of finish, while Born to Dance (Service Stripe)
broke down near the three-eighths pole and was vanned off.
Check out the graded results section for recaps of the Lone Star Park H. (G3)
and WinStar Distaff H. (G3).