(Saturday, October 4, 2008) - Mercy & Ray Hinklin’s Diamond Tres Seis, trained by Heath Taylor, bolted home to take top honors in 12th running of the $100,000 Grade 1 Refrigerator Handicap, for three-year-olds and up at Lone Star Park on Saturday night.

Ridden by Gilbert Ortiz, Diamond Tres Seis quickly saw the field get the jump on him out of the gate, but the gritty four-year-old gelding would not be denied after displaying a late burst of speed to stop the timer in 21.799 for the 440 yard distance, earning a Speed Index of 92. Easy Dashin Sixes was a neck back in second and it was another three-quarters-of-a-length to Sassys Tuffy in third.

“He had been training phenomenally and he loves the 440 yard distance, but going in I was concerned about the quality of competition he was facing because he was in against some high caliber competition tonight,” said winning trainer Heath Taylor. “I swallowed my heart at the start, because even though he broke clean he was a length or more behind right out of the gate; however, good horses are supposed to overcome trouble and run fast, and that’s what he did.”

“They had us beat bad out of the gate, they looked like they were gone and we just ran’em down. He finished really strong,” said winning rider Gilbert Ortiz.

With the win, Diamond Tres Seis improved his record to 12 wins from 18 starts and the $55,000 winner’s share increased his career earnings to $215,912.

Diamond Tres Seis paid $10.40, $5.40, $6.80, runner-up Easy Dashin Sixes returned $5.80, $7.40, and Sassys Tuffy paid $11.60 for show. Ketel Won, Catscape, Eyesa Country Miss, Mr Perry Dash, Ab Hope for Cash, Dads On a Prowl and Miss Kips Streakin completed the order of finish.

$55,000 TQHA Claiming Futurity

Despite being jostled at the start, D and D Machine Tool Parts’ McM Accent On Dash broke on the lead and held off the late run of Third Double Six to win the $55,000 TQHA Claiming Futurity for two-year-olds by half-a-length Saturday night at Lone Star Park. The race was originally scheduled to be run last month at Sam Houston Race Park but had to be cancelled due to Hurricane Ike.

The Roy Roberts-trained filly, ridden by Gilbert Ortiz, covered the 350 yards in 18.169 seconds to earn a Speed Index of 83 and paid $5.40 to win. With the victory, McM Accent On Dash improved her career record to four wins in five starts and more than doubled her career earnings to $41,730 with the $22,230 winner’s share.

Zoomtofinish, who challenged the winner until late in the race, was caught by Third Double Six for second and finished three-quarters of a length behind that one. There was a dead heat between Mr Hottie and Hotie Da Le for fourth.

Completing the field were: Party With Class, Streakin Texas Style, Mi Special Lady and Extravagant Moves. Mr Hottie and Extravagant Moves ran as an entry.

Lone Star Park’s 31-day, 2008 Quarter Horse Fall Meeting of Champions will be held from September 26 to November 29. After the opening weekend on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27, racing will be held every Thursday through Saturday in October and each Wednesday through Saturday in November, except Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 26-27 when there will be no live racing due to the Thanksgiving holiday. First post time for all dates will be 6:35 p.m. For more information, visit the track’s Web site at www.lonestarpark.com.