Grand Prairie, Texas (May 26, 2008) - Stronach Stable's Giant Gizmo, trained by five-time Eclipse Award winner Robert Frankel and ridden by 2007 Eclipse-winning jockey Garrett Gomez, overcame a difficult trip to win the 12th running of the Grade III, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap by two lengths on Monday. The Lone Star Park Handicap is the highlight of the richest day in Texas racing, Lone Star Million Day, which features six stakes races worth $1.1 million in purses.

After breaking awkwardly at the start, Giant Gizmo was forced to go four wide on the first turn before settling in behind the leaders. Taking the long way around again, four wide on the final turn, Gomez guided Giant Gizmo to the lead at the quarter pole and was able to hold off the late charge of second-place finisher Zanjero.

"I was a little disappointed going into the first turn," said Gomez. "I thought I would (only) be three wide. He was traveling well, and about the half-mile pole, he was telling me to let him go ahead and do a little something. So I went ahead and let him out a notch and when we turned for home, he did all the rest.

"The horse I was really most worried about was the horse behind us and that horse was Steve Asmussen's (Zanjero)," added Gomez. "I've ridden him and I know what kind of horse he is. I knew he would be coming late, so I didn't want to sit there and wait on him. I wanted to make sure I got a jump on him.

Bobby (Frankel) told me to go ahead and get him well placed early. Once I did that, he did all the rest."

This marks the second straight Grade III win for Giant Gizmo, who won the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 8, and the four-year-old colt's sixth win in 11 career starts. The $240,000 winner's share moves his total earnings above the half-million mark to $508,685.

Giant Gizmo paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.80. Runner up Zanjero, who finished two lengths ahead of third-place finisher Stella Mark, returned $2.40 and $2.10. The show wager paid $4.00.