Native Annie
-photo by Jack Coady/Coady Photography

Houston, Texas (February 12, 2005) - A field of eight fillies and mares took to the Connally Turf Course in tonight's feature, the $40,000 Tomball Stakes. Native Annie, owned by Robert McNair's Stonerside Stable was the winner and improved her stellar Sam Houston Race Park record to five wins from six starts.

The 4-year-old filly is trained by Michael Stidham and was ridden tonight by Corey Lanerie. Bred in Texas by Stonerside Stable, she was making her first start on the Sam Houston turf course. Lanerie, who was has won leading rider honors twice at the northwest Houston racetrack, did a fine job tonight. He settled Native Annie behind the early pacesetters and called on her at the top of the stretch. She responded and drew off to a one-length win over the fast-closing Lady Mallory. The final time of the Tomball Stakes over a firm turf course was 1:49.20.

"She's just full of class and keeps showing it every time she runs," commented Stidham. "I want to thank Corey for coming over to ride her; he did a great job."

"Mike's only instruction was to try to get her covered up and get her to relax," said Lanerie. "He did a great job training her; my part was just sitting on top; she did everything easily."

"I was very proud of her effort tonight and very appreciative that Corey came over," added John Adger, Bloodstock Manager for Stonerside Stable. "I think this was the most relaxed that she's ever been in a race. She's bred for the grass; when you look at her turf starts at Arlington Park, she had a couple of tough trips. We wanted to give her one more shot on the turf. Of course, this opens up a lot of avenues for her in the future. Tonight's win put her over $300,000 in earnings. Mike, Rigo (Rosas) and Hilary have done an incredible job training her."

Patrick Boxie had the call aboard Lady Mallory for trainer Tommie Morgan and guided her from last to her second-place finish.

"She was a little rank in the beginning but I got her back to where we wanted her and she settled nicely," said Boxie.

"She moved up going into the far turn and when I asked her at the 3/8 pole she took off. The winner had a dream trip and I had to go around horses. If I could have got through on the inside like the winner I would have had a good chance. Tommie Morgan did a good job of having her ready and she gave us a good effort."

Won Ton Win, trained by Donna Gowdy, went out to the early lead under Jeremy Collier. The 7-year-old mare had won five previous turf starts and looked very strong in the early stages of the race, but relinquished her lead to Native Annie and Lady Mallory.

"I thought she had a pretty good ride," said Gowdy. "That mare's had a long comeback. She had a condylar fracture at Lone Star in April and she's just now really getting back on top of her game. She ran a good race. It's just amazing how she came back after that fracture and she ran her heart out."

Native Annie, the heavy betting choice, paid $3.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. The 2-7 exacta returned $11.60 and the trifecta paid $61.00. Completing the order of finish were Prom Date. Wahtowah Baby, Shons Secret, Hay Madison and Big Mag.