-photo by Coady Photography

-photo by Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (August 7, 2004) - Sixteen Quarter Horses were eligible for the $14,000 Woodlands Stakes so two divisions were run this evening at Sam Houston Race Park.

Zooms the Word lived up to his name as he unleashed a powerful closing effort to win the 870-yard stakes in a time of :46.261. The 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred son of Shazoom is owned by Catherine Carr of Papalote, Texas.

Louisiana-based rider Ronald Thibodeaux was given the mount by trainer Gerry McLean. Zooms the Word was making his first start around the turn, but his rider knew he had the speed to get the job done.

"I felt that if I could get him to relax, he would take the turn," said Thibodeaux. "There were some horses that bumped me out of the gate so I figured that going wide was the best way home."

Flash N Meter made the early lead under leading rider, Danny Lavergne but had to settle for third as Zooms the Word and Devons Easy Lane came rallying in the stretch.

"She did like she did last time and got out of there running," said Lavergne. "I tried to save some for stretch as this was her second start in a week and she got a little tired toward the end."

Devons Easy Lane, ridden by John Hamilton and trained by Janet Van Bebber got up for second.

"I'm very pleased," said Van Bebber. "I thought when I first got this horse, he'd make a nice hook horse and now we've got him stakes-placed. And I think the owners will be equally happy."

"He did run a good race," concurred Hamilton. "He doesn't quite know what to do. He's going to get better and better. He ran his race today. If he would have just run on into the turn, like he left, it would have been a different story."

Zooms the Word returned $6.80, $4.20 and $2.60 across the board. The 3-6 exacta paid $75.80 and the 3-6-4 trifecta returned $383.20.

In the second division, Dashin for Bucks, owned by Stephen H. Lee of Pelham, Alabama took advantage of his inside post to win under John Hamilton. The son of Okey Dokey Dale crossed the wire in :46.358. Trained by Danny Eldridge, Dashin for Bucks had run his previous 11 starts at Delta Downs.

"I really can't take any credit," said Hamilton. "Danny knew he had talent and brought him over here tonight; all I had to do was hang on."

"We thought this was a light spot for 3-year-olds," said Eldridge. "We ran him around the turn one time and he ran a respectable second. There were no races left for him at Delta so we made the trip to Houston and it turned out good. Drawing the rail was really important, especially here."

Southern Corona ran second for trainer Eddie Willis. Rider J. R. Ramirez had to overcome a bad start, but rallied in the stretch.

"The 2 (Myfirstplacefortune) took us all out so we were well wide but my horse can really run," commented Ramirez. "Once we got straightened out he was going best of all."

Sent off as the even-money favorite, Dashin for Bucks paid $4.20 for the win. The 1-4 exacta returned $12.40 and Apollos Dasher completed the $72.40 trifecta.