America America takes the $150,000 Sam Houston Texan Juvenile Stakes
-photo by Henna Haroon/Coady Photography


Record Assembly and Desert Darby dead heat in the $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes
-photo by Henna Haroon/Coady Photography


Sago emerges victorious in the $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes
-photo by Coady Photography


Confiding Winner triumphs in the $50,000 Yellow Rose Stakes
-photo by Henna Haroon/Coady Photography


The $50,000 Groovy Stakes went to Roundabout Jones
-photo by Henna Haroon/Coady Photography


Burnin' Memories wins the $50,000 San Jacinto Stakes
-photo by Christy Smith/Coady Photography


Fitzroyal strides to victory in the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes
-photo by Henna Haroon/Coady Photography


Classoffiftyseven is victorious in the $50,000 Richard King Handicap
-photo by Henna Haroon/Coady Photography

Selma, Texas (November 15, 2003) - Trainer Steve Asmussen and rider Jeremy Beasley and five of their talented Texas-bred Thoroughbreds dominated the Texas Champions Day stakes races this evening at Sam Houston Race Park. The northwest Houston racetrack hosted one of the premier days of the Thoroughbred meeting, Texas Champions Day. Purses for the ten-race card totaled $600,000, and a thrilling night of racing was in store for the 10,247 racing fans in attendance.

Asmussen and Beasley kicked off the evening when the 2-year-old filly, Sago, owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable of Houston, captured the $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes. Sago ($4.00) kept her career record spotless and is now a perfect 4-for-4. The daughter of Valid Expectations has been a rising star in the Asmussen barn and she will be pointed to the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on December 27.

"We are very please with the results of the race," commented Asmussen. "It is very special to win for the Heiligbrodt’s. She is by Valid Expectations who the Ackerley brothers had and one of the first good horses we had. To win it in the style that she did is very nice. She makes us proud."

Their next victory was also with a filly, this time the 3-year-old Confiding Winner ($18.40) for the partnership of Leprechaun Racing of Ocala, Florida and Martin Racing Stable LLC of Dallas, who closed with authority in the $50,000 Yellow Rose Stakes.

There was more history to be made as Asmussen and Beasley connected with Desert Darby ($7.00) in a dead-heat for the $100,000 Star Of Texas Stakes. They shared the title with Record Assembly ($11.40) who was ridden by John Jacinto for trainer Charles Hukill. The dead-heat was the first in the history of the Texas Champions Day stakes races.

In the final stakes of the evening, Beasley survived another photo finish and won with Roundabout Jones ($4.80) in the $50,000 Groovy Stakes. The 2-year-old colt, owned and bred by Asmussen’s father, Keith, has now won three of his four career starts.

The final race of the evening, the $12,500 Susannah Dickerson Starter Allowance was the fifth win of the night for Beasley and Asmussen. This time the winner was 4-year-old filly, She’s No Bo, owned by Asmussen. Asmussen was joined by his parents, Keith and Marilyn, wife, Julie and sons, Darren and Keith for the exciting night of racing.

"This was a great night for our horses and owners," said Asmussen. "We have had some excellent opportunities in Texas and hope to continue to build on our success in winning races and developing Texas-bred champions. I have to give credit to assistant trainer, Tony Mathieson, who runs our operation here at Sam Houston Race Park. He has done a great job with our horses and deserves a lot of credit for our success this meet."

Rider Roman Chapa also had an eventful evening, winning two stakes on the Texas Champions Day card. His first victory was aboard longshot Burnin’ Memories ($31.80) in the $50,000 San Jacinto Stakes and won the $150,000 Sam Houston Texan Juvenile with the lone filly in the race, America America ($25.80).