(June 24, 2006) - Magic Power gave jockey Richard Eramia the perfect birthday present on Saturday - his first North American stakes win with one length triumph over Seneca Song in the $40,000 Miller Lite Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Comalgold, the 3-2 favorite, was third.

Eramia, a native of Uruguay who turned 27 Saturday, had Magic Power, a 4-year-old filly trained by John Locke, forwardly placed in the five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares. She dueled from the inside, edged clear at the top of the stretch and held off Seneca Song to stop the clock in :57.14 over firm going.

For Eramia, it was the first of two victories Saturday, giving him 18 at the meeting - good for eighth in the local jockey standings. This is his first season at Lone Star Park.

"I'm very happy," said Eramia, who speaks limited English. He said he ventured to the United States in early 2005 after 11 years as a rider in his native country. Shortly thereafter, he notched his first United States win at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 22, 2005. He's ridden more than 50 winners since then.

"She's a nice filly," Eramia said.

After losing the horse for a $15,000 claiming tag in March, Magic Power was re-claimed by her owner/breeder Bobby Harper in May for the same price. It's easy to understand why because the Texas-bred daughter of Magic Cat won for the seventh time in 18 career starts. Six of those victories have come in eight five-furlong turf sprints.

The $24,000 winner's share of the purse jumped her earnings to $95,100.

"We tried her on the dirt a little bit, but we couldn't get her to run very well on the dirt," said Harper, who runs his horses under the nom de course S L R Stables. "I came back short with her on the turf and she did well. Then we put her over a distance of ground and she didn't do well there. We've got her back where back she belongs; five-eighths on the turf fits her quite well. She loves the speed and she came back at them again. So what can you say? She just ran a good race."

Magic Power paid $17, $8 and $4.60. Seneca Song returned $6.20 and $3.20. Comalagold, a neck back of Seneca Song, paid $2.60.

DOWN THE STRETCH - Live racing at Lone Star Park continues Sunday with a nine-race program that begins at 1:35 p.m. CT...Jockey Glen Murphy won three races Saturday...Walmac Lone Star Derby champ Wanna Runner is the 9-5 favorite for Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine. The 1 ¼-mile event is the first leg of Canada's Triple Crown...Jockey Richard Eramia won't ride at Lone Star Park from June 29-July 2 because he was handed a seven-day suspension by Texas Racing Commission stewards for a careless ride aboard Keokuk in the fourth race on June 11...Sunday is Senior Citizen's Day at Lone Star with free admission for patrons 62 and up with proof of identification...Lone Star Park jockeys will visit patients of Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The jockeys will be dressed in their familiar riding silks and will hand out autographed goggles to the children. Lone Star's mascot "Derby the Horse" also will be present. Cook Children's Medical Center is located at 801 Seventh Ave. in Fort Worth...Post-race fireworks follow special 5 p.m. twilight racing programs on Sunday, July 2 and Monday, July 3 - the highlight of the Fourth of July weekend at Lone Star Park. There'll be plenty of entertainment for the entire family: pony rides, a petting zoo, interactive games, bounce houses, giant slides, arts and crafts vendors, and face painters. Between lives races, there will be music performed in the Courtyard of Champions by Signed, Sealed, Delivered on July 2 and Jeremiah Houston on July 3 (5 p.m. to 9 p.m. both days). Grandstand gates will open at 3 p.m. both days...There will be live racing on Tuesday, July 4 - a nine-race program at 1:35 p.m...Prior to the fireworks on July 2, Lone Star Park will stage its annual mascot race, featuring mascots from area sports teams and someone will win a trip to NASCAR's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway - the thrilling conclusion of "The Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" series. Everyone with a paid admission before 7:30 p.m. will receive an entry blank to win airfare, hotel accommodations and two tickets to the Nov. 19 championship race in Miami. The winner will be announced in a prize drawing later that night...On July 3, one lucky patron will win a 2006 V6 Ford Mustang Coupe, thanks to a partnership between Lone Star Park and the North Texas Ford Dealers. Anyone who visits a North Texas Ford Dealer through Saturday, July 2 can pick up a "Lone Star Park Trackpack" that contains an entry form, two general admission tickets and a general parking coupon. The entry form must be delivered to Lone Star Park by 7:30 p.m. on July 3. After the final race and just before the fireworks show, 10 participants randomly chosen earlier in the day will each have the opportunity to select the key that opens the door to the new car...A stakes doubleheader is on tap next Saturday - the $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile and the $60,000 Lone Star Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on turf.