(Saturday, August 16, 2008) - Bridled Lightnin upsets reigning champ Sin Tacha Perry in the $16,000 Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) Sires’ Cup Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, August 16. The four-year-old filly, bred and owned by Warner Croft, is trained by Bobby Moore, Jr. and was ridden tonight by Gaspar Garcia.

Even after a steady stream of showers this afternoon in northwest Houston, the track condition was graded as fast for all ten races. Bridled Lightnin, a daughter of Phone Prince, stood calmly in the gate, dueled briefly before finishing strong, and completed the 400-yard stakes in a final time of :19.913.

“She ran big tonight, and she’s had an overall good meet here with three stellar races,” said trainer Bobby Moore, Jr.

The gutsy filly did not break too sharp, but she made a move, and when another horse tried to hook her, she pinned her ears, dug in, and ran. Bridled Lightnin was also nominated for the $18,250 Spring Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Stakes, but at the last minute was pulled from the 550-yard race.

“I wanted to see what both races were going to draw in, and after I looked at it, I really didn’t think that one race was tougher than the other. I didn’t think it’d be good for her to run 550 yards again only three weeks later when she could run 400 yards and it’d be easier on her, so I made the decision to run her shorter,” commented Moore. “She’s a versatile filly and can run both distances well.”

After running three races at Sam Houston Race Park, Bridled Lightnin will be heading to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and hopes to come back stronger after finishing poorly in last year’s Dash For Cash Derby trials.

“After the Blue Bonnet Stakes here last year, she fell apart a little, so we turned her out, and the rest really helped her, so we’ll head back to Lone Star, and we’re confident she’ll do much better this year. The only other race here that I’d consider entering her in would be the Sam Houston Classic Handicap in a couple weeks, and that’s too soon for her to race again,” Moore stated.

Sent off at 5-1, Bridled Lightnin was slightly overshadowed in the wagering by This Snow Is Cold, a seven-year-old mare, former world champion, and winner of the 2006 Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park.

Last year’s TQHA Sires’ Cup Stakes winner, Sin Tacha Perry, came on late but could not hold off Bridled Lightnin at the end. The five-year-old mare was ridden by Alfonso Lujan and is trained and owned by Janet Van Bebber.

“I think my mare ran a game race. She pulled a muscle in her back after the last race here, so she came off running very well after that happening, and I’m extremely proud of her effort,” commented Van Bebber. “Bridled Lightnin is a nice mare. She ran second in a stakes race a couple weeks ago, and she was one of the top two-year-olds only two years ago, so I’m very proud of my mare in this race.”

Final placement was Bridled Lightnin ($12.20) by a head, Sin Tacha Perry in second, Mambo Chill third, and Jess Wicked, Streakin On Bye You, Blazin Sixes, Hemi Sweet, Dashin Three Sixes, Red Maverick Warrior, and favored horse This Snow Is Cold completing the order of finish.

In addition to the $16,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Stakes, this weekend’s racing also featured the $18,250 Spring Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Stakes on Friday, August 15.

$18,250 Spring Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Stakes
Friday, August 15
8th Race; Field of 6 horses; 550 yards
Winner: Cash At The Line (five-year-old gelding)
:27.216 winning time; speed 101 mph
Jockey: Rodrigo Vallejo; Trainer: Judd Kearl; Owner: Julie Irwin Cotton

“This race was just awesome. I’m so proud of this boy. This was his second win in a row here at Sam Houston. I’m not sure what’s up next for the horse, but we will probably keep him here in Houston until the end of the meet,” said owner Julie Irwin Cotton.

“The one horse cut me off coming out of the gate. I moved over to take the inside lane. I saw the three horse coming up, but I knew I had the race,” commented jockey Rodrigo Vallejo.

Final placement was Cash At The Line ($7.80) by a neck, followed by Six Moons Streakin, third place finisher El Zapatista, Sheza Bright Wood, Jess Phenomenal, and Dash N Murr.

Next Saturday, August 23, will be the $15,000+ Texas Twister Stakes race for three-year-olds and up running a distance of 110 yards. Live Quarter Horse racing continues every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in August at Sam Houston Race Park.