Houston, Texas (December 19, 2004) - Three-year-old fillies took center stage this evening at Sam Houston Race Park and Injustice gave Peggy Graham an early Christmas present. The daughter of Breeders' Cup Sprint champion, Lit de Justice closed with a rush under rider Luis Quinonez to capture the first stakes of her career. She covered the six-furlongs in 1:11.29 over a fast track.

Trainer Jerry Hardin has guided the gray filly through her fifteen starts at Oaklawn Park and Louisiana Downs, but picked the Cy-Fair Stakes for the filly's Houston owner, Peggy Graham. Quinonez has been aboard for seven of her last eight races and was pleased with her effort tonight.

"I wanted to run her before Oaklawn got started and Mr. and Mrs. Graham live here," said Hardin. "Their whole family was here tonight, so we thought she'd have a good shot in this race."

"I'm familiar with this filly," said Quinonez. "She responded very well for me tonight. The last time on an off track, she had perfect position, but just couldn't get there. Tonight she ran a much better race."

So Sorry, under rider Sidney LeJeune, Jr., ran a game race, taking the lead in as she entered the final stretch, before the late burst from the winner.

"She had a great trip," said LeJeune. "She broke away clean and took off when I asked her. I thought there would be more speed in there so we were up closer than I expected, but when I asked her she ran away from them. But then the gray horse just came flying by at the end."

Post time favorite Silver Crown set the pace in the early stages of the race, but tired and finished fourth.

"I didn't want her to use herself up to early as I wanted her to save something for the end," commented rider James Graham. "She just flattened on me a bit down the lane."

Injustice earned $24,000 for tonight's victory and sent off at 6-1, paid $13.80 to win, $7.20 to place and $4.40 to show. The 4-6 exacta returned $140 and 4-6-10 paid a hefty $3,162.80. Completing the order of finish were Cookin's Cast, Hay Madison, Questionable Past, Sago, Lucky Tunnel, Bluegrass Sara and Peace Symbol.

Live racing for 2004 concluded this evening at Sam Houston Race Park. The action resumes on Friday, January 7 and the 2004/2005 Thoroughbred Meeting continues through Sunday, April 10, 2005.

Big Night for Trainer Steve Asmussen and Rider Roman Chapa

The duo of trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Roman Chapa combined for four wins tonight at Sam Houston Race Park. Their winning string began in the first race with a victory by Christavilla ($8.60). They hit the early double with a win by Texan Storm ($4.80) in the second. Their third win came in the fourth race with Halory's Habit ($5.20) and continued with a 5 1/2 length romp win in the fifth race by Mr. Cold Comfort ($3.80).