-photo by Jack Coady/Coady Photography


-photo by Sandra Beck/Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (March 25, 2006) - A nicely matched group of accredited Texas-bred fillies were entered in tonight’s $40,000 Houston Ladies Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. The winner was Dodd, owned by Victoria Ashford and trained by Troy Young.

Grand Taboo was hustled to the lead by Damon Duhon, but Dodd, under a confident ride from Glen Murphy, surged past her at the top of the stretch and closed down the center of the racetrack. The 5-year-old daughter of Rare Brick had run third in the Yellow Rose Stakes on Texas Champions Day, losing to Expectant Diva. She turned the tables on Expectant Diva tonight, drawing clear for the win in the seven-furlong stakes in a time of 1.25.88.

“She left the gates and I tried to get her to relax,” said Murphy. “When I called on her, she had a lot of gas left in the tank. The favorite (Expectant Diva) was coming; I felt her and Dodd did too. She just had something extra.”

Bobby Walker, Jr. rode Expectant Diva for trainer Randy Mayfield and owner Virginia Jago Elder.

“I hit her on the left side so she went to the outside,” said Walker. “Once I got her straightened up, she just kind of ran flat from there. I’m not sure she really wants to go this (distance) either, because I was getting to the winner and I hit her on the left and she just dove out, but she was really done at that point. She’s a come from behind sprinter is what she is and the delay didn’t work in our favor. The winner ran a good race.”

Dodd, sent off at 8-1, rewarded her supporters with $18.80 for the win. The 7-6 exacta paid $46.80 and the trifecta with in the field of eight accredited Texas-bred fillies and mares, Native Annie returned $3.00 for the win. Cookin’s Cast ran third under Quincy Hamilton; the trifecta paid $201.40. The remainder of the field included Brushabybaby, Memories by Night, Millibar, Bridlestone and Grand Taboo.