-photo by Coady Photography/Jenifer Juelsgaard

Houston, Texas (March 11, 2006) - A field of eight fillies went postward in tonight’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park, the $40,000 Sam Houston Oaks.

It was a big night for jockey Quincy Hamilton, who took over the lead in the riding standings and guided Sweet Idea to her first stakes win for trainer W. Bret Calhoun and owner Barnett Stables LLC. Longshot Seven Anns took the lead under Larry Taylor, but Hamilton saved ground on the rail and drew off, guiding the 3-year-old daughter of Langfuhr to a four and one half length victory. They crossed the wire of the one-mile event over a fast track in 1:40.15.

“I saw (Seven Anns) kind of drifting out a little bit,” recalled Hamilton. “I boosted her up in there and she rode really strong like a good horse should. She’s a really nice filly and got a good break, and we came back victorious today.”

This was her first start since December 22 at Sam Houston Race Park when she demolished her rivals in an allowance race, winning by 13 lengths. Calhoun, who has been overseeing his racing operation at Oaklawn Park, had several ideas for Sweet Idea.

“I entered her in a stakes at Evangeline that never went,” said Calhoun. “Then I brought her to Oaklawn and was planning to run her in the Martha Washington. She drew the 13-hole and I scratched her. The next logical place to run her was in the Oaks.”

Seven Anns held on for second and Taylor was happy with her effort and is confident of her success in future trips.

“I’ll tell you what, she’ll be a different horse next time,” beamed Taylor. “She knows how to go around these turns. She came around the last turn and saw the (starting gate) so I had to start riding her a little earlier than I wanted to. She settled well for me, she just got a little freaked out when she saw the gate sitting there on the side. If she’s with the same kind of horses next time, she will win a stakes.”

The post-time favorite was Chit Chat Pam, who won her last two stakes at Sam Houston Race Park for trainer Bob Young. The daughter of leading Texas sire, Valid Expectations, finished fourth under her regular pilot, Filemon Rodriguez.

“She was a little washed out in the paddock and didn’t get a real good start,” said Young. “But I can’t take anything away from the winner; she got outrun by a real nice horse.”

Young added that Chit Chat Pam will get a break and make her next start at Lone Star Park.

Sweet Idea, was sent off as the second betting choice and returned $6.00 to win. Seven Anns was 34-1, keying a $150.40 exacta and the trifecta with Corazon d’Oro at 58-1, paid $1,587.20. Chit Chat Pam, Kalyrra, Yaddo Cat, Behrenitall and Jb’s Golden Regret completed the order of finish.

A crowd of 7,779 was in attendance for the ten-race card and a concert by rising Country Western star, Roger Creager.