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Pauline’s Pearl wins the 2022 Houston Women Basic
Nominations are closed for the Houston Race Pageant at Sam Houston Raceway Park. The annual occasion, which options the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Women Basic and the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf, will likely be held on Saturday, January 28, with a 1:00 PM (CT) afternoon put up time .
Launched in 2013, the Houston Women Basic was awarded grade standing in 2016 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. Every year, the 1 1/16-mile foremost observe characteristic has produced distinctive winners who’ve superior to Grade 1 and captured nationwide headlines. Pleased Victory, owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms, skilled by Larry Jones, was the primary winner of the Houston Women Basic. Midnight Bisou, the unparalleled mare who captured the 2019 version of the championship, surpassed the $7 million mark in earnings with 5 Grade 1 victories. St. George Steady LLC’s Letruska is the 2021 champion and has gained 5 straight, together with 4 Grade 1 titles. He was additionally awarded an Eclipse Award earlier than his retirement from racing and is by Curlin.
This yr’s Houston Women Basic closed with 24 nominations. Corridor of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen nominated 2021 winner Pauline’s Pearl. She is a daughter of Tapit out of The Stonestreet Stables LLC homebred Dixie Union mare Scorching Dixie Chick. She adopted her Houston Women Basic rating with a Grade 1 win, successful the $750,000 La Troienne at Churchill Downs and incomes $1,695,200 in 15 profession efforts.
Asmussen, who has gained 14 Sam Houston Race Park main coach titles, will likely be in search of her fourth win on the Houston Women Basic. Along with successful final yr’s version, he gained in 2019 with Midnight Bisou and in 2020 with Woman Apple.
One other longtime supporter of Sam Houston Race Park is coach Bret Calhoun, who’s working Hidden Connection for the $300,000 Houston Women Basic. Kentucky cat, captured MilitaryGained the 2021 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs earlier than ending fourth within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) for homeowners Hidden Brook Farm and Black Sort Thoroughbreds.
Entries have been robust for the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles with 46 nominations obtained by the Sam Houston Race Park racing workplace. Notable point out goes to 2 former winners who’re nonetheless excellent seashore professionals. Crew Block’s hometown of one other thriller scored an exhilarating useless warmth win with Fantasioso eventually yr’s Connally. Coached by his 7-year-old son, Chris Block Temple metropolis He examined the waters in opposition to some high grass routers by ending third within the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup final September. In 32 begins, he has earned $562,650.
2021 Connally winner NBS Steady’s Spooky Channel is coming off a Buddy Diliberto Memorial win for coach Jason Barkley at Truthful Grounds final month. The 8-year-old canine earned $661,722, in accordance with the Channel Channel. Coach Mike Maker, who has gained the Connally document seven occasions, has named 11 seashore consultants.
The John B. Connally Turf was awarded Grade 3 standing in 2006 and has a strong roster of previous winners together with Chorwon, Fort Prado, Rod and Employees, in addition to three-time winners Candid Glen and Greater Image.
Additionally, 24 nominations have been obtained for the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds. Previously referred to as the Texas Turf Mile, it has drawn extremely aggressive fields for the previous three years. The stakes are named in honor of Robert Bork, former basic supervisor of Sam Houston Raceway Park and revered trade chief, who died on June 11, 2021.
The draw for the Houston Race Pageant will likely be held on Saturday, January twenty first. Two Texas-made $100,000 Bara Lass and $100,000 Groovy can even be contested.
You possibly can view the nominations for every characteristic equibase.com. Press releases for every of the Houston Racing Pageant Stakes will comply with.
