-photo by Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (June 26, 2004) - Prime Talent lived up to his name this evening at Sam Houston Race Park as he surged to the wire in tonight's stakes race, the $15,500 Magnolia Stakes. The 4-year-old son of Corona Cartel was bred in Oklahoma by Pheenix Shaw (sic) and Sylvia Pittman and owned by Pittman and Bill Stanley.

Trainer John Buchanan reunited Prime Talent with rider Juan Vasquez who rode the bay colt for the majority of his 2003 races. Vasquez handled the assignment with confidence and surged to the wire a length ahead of Ronas Wind Dancer. The final time of the 350-yard stakes over a muddy track was :17.574.

"I rode him most of last year and always knew he was a nice horse," said Vasquez. "Tonight he ran a heck of a race."

Buchanan shipped Prime Talent to Remington Park on May 15 in an attempt to qualify him for the Grade 1 MBNA Challenge Championship. Prime Talent ran seventh in that race, so Buchanan was pleased with his performance tonight.

"We'll take him to Delta for to run trials for the MBNA Challenge Championship at the end of July," said Buchanan. "Other than that, we will keep him here; we'd prefer not to ship him and just find a race here."

Ronas Wind Dancer, from the barn of Jeff Acuna, rallied for second under rider Danny Lavergne.

"I was real pleased," commented Lavergne. "He didn't get away last time (in the Stephen F. Austin Stakes). He kind of lunged up out of there and didn't get a good break at all. This time, he ran a big race and was gone. They caught me the last 20 yards. But I'm pleased with the way he ran."

Prime Talent was sent off as the post time favorite in the field of 11 and paid $6.40 to win, $5.00 to place and $5.60 to show. The 3-5 exacta returned $55.80 and the trifecta with Rowdy O Toole, paid $569.60. Snow Warning, Shaky Embrujo, Hesa Lil Bit High, Sir Speedy Duncan, Midnitranitogeorgia, Shake Em Wizar, Joyalty and Magic Jess Perry completed the order of finish.