Houston, Texas (January 31, 2004) - A speedy group of seven 3-year-olds were entered in tonight’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park, the $30,000 Bucharest Stakes. The heavy favorite, Jimmy Cracked Corn did not disappoint his backers as he captured his first stakes race for trainer Tom Amoss and owner W. Temple Webber, Jr.

The Bucharest Stakes is named for the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, owned by Israel Flores and trained by Amos Laborde, who set three track records at Sam Houston Race Park, including the lightening fast six furlong time of 1:08.88 on May 11, 1994, which remains the current track record..

Jimmy Cracked Corn, a Kentucky-bred, won his third consecutive race tonight. He broke his maiden on December 14 at Turfway Park, stepped up to allowance company and won easily on January 17 at Fair Grounds. Amoss shipped him to Sam Houston Race Park and gave Simington his instructions this morning on the telephone.

"This morning when I talked to him he said that I could lay off the pace or stay on the lead, whichever way it worked out," said Simington. "I didn’t rush him in the first part of the race and when he made the lead, he went about his business. He’s a pro and got the job done."

Foxtrot Oscar closed gamely under Filemon Rodriguez to complete the exacta. Owned and trained by William Welch, Foxtrot Oscar won an allowance sprint at Sam Houston Race Park on December 20 in preparation for tonight’s stake.

"I think I made a mistake by not letting the horse run a little bit early," said Welch. "He broke better than he's been breaking and we took him to the back. I probably should have let him run a little more freely, but I'm looking to stretch this horse out. As you can see, he wants to stretch out. And I almost got (Jimmy Cracked Corn) beat tonight. I got 7/8 picked out; I got a mile picked out. Then I got the Arkansas Derby. If I'm 1-2-3 there, then I go to Kentucky."

Jimmy Cracked Corn completed the six-furlong sprint in a time of 1:11.89 and returned $2.80 for the win. Polish Navigator, Sabre Rattling, Next Bandit and Pirate Afleet completed the order of finish.