Jones earns stakes double with Albano, Louisiana Derby hopeful A Day in Paradise

Albano capped off a stakes double for trainer Larry Jones and jockey Kerwin Clark that began… (Sam Houston/Coady Photography)

Brereton C. Jones’ homebred Albano (Istan) wired Saturday evening’s $100,000

Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston by a romping 6 1/2 lengths for trainer Larry
Jones.

Jockey Kerwin Clark was patient with the Kentucky-bred,
guiding him through the first quarter-mile in :24 3/5 and the half-mile in
:50 2/5. Unpressured throughout, the bay colt galloped home in 1.52 1/5 for 1
1/8 miles on the fast track. Albano was sent off the 2-5 favorite against his
five rivals and paid $2.80 for the win.

“I knew they were in trouble after the first quarter mile,”
said Clark. “I’ve always liked this colt. He was my ‘in’ to Larry Jones’ barn
last year, so he will always have a special place in my heart. Larry had him
ready to go and, what can I say? It’s just a privilege and a pleasure to be
riding for these guys.”

Jones was aiming for the Mineshaft H. (G3) last weekend at Fair Grounds, but just
didn’t see the “sparkle” in Albano, and opted to ship him to Sam Houston for the
Maxxam Gold Cup instead.

“He ran very well tonight, but it just showed what a poor
training job I did on his last race,” Jones said, referring to his
third-place finish in the Louisiana H. at Fair Grounds on January 17. “It’s great to see him at the
top of his game. I owe Governor Jones a lot of credit. He doesn’t put the
pressure on me. He tells me that when the horses are right, let’s run them.”

…when Louisiana Derby candidate A Day in Paradise captured his stakes bow in the Texas Heritage S. (Sam Houston/Coady Photography)

Sam Houston hosted two other stakes on its Saturday evening card, with Ken
and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred Kitten’s Queen (Kitten’s Joy) living up to her 3-2
favoritism in the $50,000

Jersey Lily S. and Tommy G. Ligon’s A Day in Paradise (Yes It’s True) doing
the same at 3-5 in the $50,000

Texas Heritage S.

A Day in Paradise gave Larry Jones and Clark a second stakes win on the
evening when taking the Texas Heritage S. by 3 1/4 lengths right before the
Maxxam Gold Cup. The bay gelding dueled throughout before finally asserting his
class and drawing off in late stretch to stop the clock in 1:40 1/5 for a mile
on the main track.

“He didn’t even know what he was doing,” Clark said. “He never really puts
his mind to running; he just thinks he is out there for fun and games. In all
honesty, this horse has not even figured it out yet, but it’s going to be fun
when he figures out he is a racehorse.”

Jones affectionately dubbed his winner a “knucklehead,” but
was very pleased with the victory.

“He’s a big horse and that’s one of the reasons he’s coming
around slowly,” Jones explained. “He’ll figure it out, and we’re pretty pleased
with him.”

Prior to those two stakes was Kitten’s Queen, who gave the Ramseys and Maker a third straight win in the Jersey Lilly (Sam Houston/Coady Photography)

Kitten’s Queen rallied on the far turn after settling off the early pace set
by One Time Only (Lemon Drop Kid). The Mike Maker-trained mare took command in
midstretch for a two-length victory under jockey David Cabrera. The duo
completed 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf in 1:42.71, just off the 1:42.05 course
record set last Saturday night by Gaelico (War Front).

Kitten’s Queen earned her first stakes score in the Jersey Lilly having
finished second in the Blushing K.D. S. to round out her four-year-old season on
December 18 at Fair Grounds. It was the third straight win in the Jersey Lilly
for Maker and the Ramseys, who scored year’s stakes with Always Kitten and the
2013 edition of the turf stakes with Artemus Kitten, both of whom are also by Kitten’s
Joy.

Maker had no definite idea for the next start for his
filly, just stating that “several options” would be considered.

While no Thoroughbred stakes are scheduled for next weekend at Sam Houston,
the track will host the return of exotic racing featuring camels, ostriches and
the addition of zebra races. The exotic animal races will take place on the main
racetrack in between live horse races and, due to the
popular demand, will be held on two
nights — Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7.