(March 27, 2003)- Call Me Lefty, winner of two Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park, was voted Horse of the Meeting for the 2002/ 2003 Thoroughbred meeting.

The 3-year-old Texas-bred is owned and bred by the Christine S. Moore Family Limited Partnership of Fredericksburg, Texas and trained by Tommie Morgan. He was impressive in each of his four starts at Sam Houston Race Park, winning the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes on December 28 and the $75,000 Texas Stallion Stakes on February 15. He also ran second in the $50,000 Groovy Stakes on November 16 and captured an allowance race on December 4 by ten lengths. Morgan shipped him to the Fair Grounds for the grade 3 Lecomte Stakes where he finished second to Saintly Look. The son of Aggie Southpaw has won four of his nine lifetime starts and amassed earnings of $196,650.

"We are really proud of him," commented Morgan. "He likes to go around two turns and it seems the further he goes, the better he gets. He gives 110% every time he runs."

Morgan and his wife, Jackie, were elated with the news that Call Me Lefty had been voted both Champion 3-year-old of the Meeting as well as Horse of the Meeting. The 56-year-old native Texan has run Thoroughbreds at Sam Houston Race Park since it opened in 1994. He has conditioned stakes winners Mastery’s Gamble, Cypress City Queen and Front Nine, but admits that Call Me Lefty is one of the best he has ever trained.

"He is a runner, that’s for sure," said Morgan. "I would have to say that he is one of the top 2-year-olds I have ever had."
Accepting the awards on Sunday night will be Christine Moore and her daughter, Sherry Raska, who manages the racing and breeding interests for the Fredericksburg-based family.

"We’ve raised him since he was a baby," said Raska. "His success has been so exciting for the entire family and winning Horse of the Meet is a real honor for us."

Candid Glen was voted Turf Champion of the Meeting for the third year in a row. The winner of the $223,000 Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf Race is owned by Dr. Glen Warren of Jackson, Mississippi, and trained by Andy Leggio, Jr. The 6-year-old turf runner made history becoming the first three-time winner in the nine-year history of the prestigious turf stakes.

The Warrens are still euphoric over Candid Glen’s victory in last Sunday’s $650,000 Explosive Bid Handicap at the Fair Grounds. He was the longest shot on the board, paying $170 for the win and earned $390,000 for his graded stakes win. When he won the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf on February 15, he reached $805,130, and is now a millionaire.

Term Sheet was voted Champion Texas-bred of the Meeting. Owned by the Ackerley Brothers Farm of Houston, Term Sheet had three victories this meet, including two stakes wins. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Term Sheet captured the $35,000 Jersey Village Stakes on February 22 and the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Handicap on January 4.

Claimer of the Meet honors went to Wayne’s Princess, owned by Charles McKamie of Justin, Texas. McKamie and trainer Bret Calhoun claimed the 4-year-old filly and she has performed admirably this meet at Sam Houston Race Park, winning three of her four starts. She began the meet with a victory in a $7,500 claiming race on December 18 and won again for a purse of $15,000 on January 24. She ran second in a $10,000 starter allowance on February 8 and returned to the winner’s circle in a $22,000 allowance race on March 13. The daughter of Wayne’s Crane could culminate a successful season with a win this Saturday as she is entered in the $35,000 Double Your Flavor Stakes.

"We dropped her into the claiming ranks to get her confidence back," said Calhoun. "She’s always had ability and now seems to be getting better with each race."

The Champion Filly/Mare of the Meeting is Fleeta Dif owned and trained by Tom Warren of Weatherford, Texas. The daughter of Hadif won the $50,000 Yellow Rose Stakes on Texas Champions Day and the $35,000 Cy-Fair Stakes on December 7.

"This is such a thrill for Tom, who is 78-years-old, to have such a good horse," said Warren’s wife, Pat.

The leading owner, trainer and jockey awards will also be presented on the final day of the meeting. Steve Asmussen, who has won two previous titles at the northwest Houston racetrack, leads Danny Pish by ten wins going into the final four days. Preston Stables LLC has 14 wins and will try to hold off the competition for Leading Owner of the Meeting.

The jockey battle will be hotly contested for the final four days of racing between Don Simington and Terry Stanton. The two veterans are currently tied with 71 victories.

Post time for the final day of the meeting is 4:00 p.m. with the End of the Meet Awards to be presented in between races. Sam Houston Race Park will offer free admission for both Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with Fan Appreciation Weekend.