GoldSound
-photo courtesy Coady Photography

(Saturday, December 8, 2007) - Gold Sound ($8.60) and jockey Paul Nolan took a late lead but landed top honors in the Buffalo Bayou Stakes race held on Saturday, December 8, 2007, at Sam Houston Race Park. The five-year old Chestnut Gelding, owned by Wertheimer and Frere and trained by Michael Stidham, beat out favored horse Smooth Bid with a winning time of 1:45:24 on the 1 1/16 mile turf track.

When asked how the race was won, Nolan commented, “he relaxed really nice down the backside and I was just looking for a place to make a move and have something open for me. I watched Rohan [Singh, jockey of favored horse Smooth Bid] and I saw him kick. When he kicked, I kicked, as I knew there was going to be a separation somewhere. From there, we just flew on the home stretch and it was like having a rocket underneath me.”

Nolan has already captured several amazing wins this season including three at Texas Champions Day held at The Park on December 1. Nolan shares tonight’s win with trainer Michael Stidham. The dynamic racing duo also shared last weekend’s largest win with champion Thoroughbred Sandburr, the repeat winner of the $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes race.

Gold Sound was followed by Silver Haze and favored horse Smooth Bid. The race featured a field of seven horses.

The Texas Arabian Futurity provided racing fans with plenty of excitement as Cool Sand Luke ($3.60), owned by Scott Powell, took first place in the $22,950 stakes race and in the process, set a new track record with a winning time of 1:17:88. The previous course record was 1:18:13. The 3-year old colt, ridden by Ramon Guce, pulled ahead in the final stretch to beat out Faraac and Case Dismissed.

“This is just what the owner wants, a new track record,” jockey Ramon Guce said. “Things just fell into place from out of the gate and we managed to bring it home.”

When asked about a strategy to win in tonight’s race, trainer Jerry Partin said, “I have to give credit to Ramon, he knows as much, if not more, than I do about the horse as he is the one who rides him. We are pleased with the outcome and are proud of both of them for this exciting win and a new record.”

The six furlong race featured a total of 11 colts and geldings.

The final Texas Arabian Futurity stakes race of the night saw favored filly Abra Caadabra ($8.40) cross the finish line ahead of DC Willful Spirit and Tri Spring Proof with a time of 1:19:96. The 3-year old, owned by David S. Nall and trained by Jerry Partin, claimed a purse of $21,600 against a field of 11 fillies.

“I had to kind of get after her as she doesn’t have a lot of kick and I didn’t want her to get behind and not be able to get the acceleration she needed to win,” said jockey Joy Marie Scott. “In the end, we were burning sand!”

Jerry Partin remarked that his advice for all his jockeys was “just to hurry back,” which proved to be a winning recipe for his horses and riders.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Sam Houston Race Park through Saturday, April 5, 2008. For more information, please visit www.shrp.com.