Houston, Texas (April 3, 2004) - A full field of accredited Texas-bred 3-year-olds were featured in the $40,000 Fort Bend Stakes tonight at Sam Houston Race Park. Mr. Devious, owned by the Houston-based World War IV Racing, closed with authority from his far outside post to win the first stakes of his career.

Bred in Texas by Ed Few, Mr. Devious made his first career start at Sam Houston Race Park on January 15. He finished third in that 5 ½ furlong event over a muddy track, but rider Don Simington was impressed with his debut. Trained by Pam Simpson, Mr. Devious was shipped to Oaklawn Park where he broke his maiden on February 21 and won an allowance race on March 14.

"The difference in tonight’s effort from his first start over this racetrack boiled down to fitness and experience," said Simington. "He wasn’t quite ready in January; the field he was in was really tough - one of the toughest maiden races of the meet. He got a lot out of it, though. I really liked this colt from the first time I worked him. I’m blessed that I had an opportunity to ride him back."

In tonight’s race, Mr. Devious settled off the pace from Goosey Moose and Expectacat, as they completed the first quarter in 23.18 and the half-mile in 46.30. Simington called on the bay gelding and he was on even terms with Goosey Moose at the eighth-pole, dueling and prevailing by a neck. The final time of the seven-furlong contest, over a fast track, was 1:24.23.

Simpson was proud of his effort, especially overcoming the far outside post.

"We just had the horse," commented Simpson. "He’s unbelievable; he’s a really good horse. He’s mature beyond his experience and he’s been a wonderful horse to train."

Goosey Moose, under Roger Gomez, showed improvement for trainer Danny Pish and recorded another stakes placing this evening.

"We needed a one-speed horse," commented Pish. "If we had a one-speed horse, I think we would have won the race. Roger said the horse relaxed nicely for him, but I think he would rather stalk somebody. And if somebody would have wanted the lead and allowed us to follow them, I think the horse would have relaxed a little better for Roger, and had a little more finish. Mike Chamberlain said it perfectly: we got the lead by default; nobody wanted it, because it's hard to sustain the lead all the way around the track."

Oncearoundtwice, making his first start since Texas Champions Day on November 15, closed well for the show spot under Jeffery Burningham.

"He was a little fresh off the layoff and was up closer than I expected, but the pace was really slower than we expected," said Burningham. "He had a good trip other than the slow pace and gave me what he had when I asked him."