 Houston,
Texas February 11, 2012 Great Mills Champion Energy Services Stakes
Purse $75,000 Millennium Farms, Owner Steve Asmussen, Trainer Chris
Landeros, Up Solar Charge (2nd) Trelawny (3rd) 5 Furlongs~Turf
:57.06 $11.20 $5.80 $4.00 - Jack
Coady/Coady Photography
GREAT MILLS RETURNS TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE IN
THE $75,000 CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES STAKES AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Houston, TX - Feb. 11, 2012 - Great Mills, owned by Millennium Farms
and trained by Steve Asmussen, had not entered the winner’s circle
since last July at Saratoga. This evening at Sam Houston Race Park,
he showed his class as he defeated nine rivals in the $75,000
Champion Energy Services Stakes.
The 4-year-old son of War Chant was ridden for the first time by
jockey Chris Landeros, who after winning the 2011 Connally and
Jersey Lilly Stakes, was thrilled to pick up his first stakes win of
the 2012 meet.
The Kentucky-bred broke alertly from the far outside post, dueling
briefly with longshot Penney N a Prayer, and held off a late run by
Solar Charge. Final time of the sprint, over the firm Connally turf
course was :57.06.
“He felt like a Ferrari under me tonight,” said Landeros. “He’s all
class and was very professional out there. The way he dragged me
down the backside; all I could say was ‘wow’. I give him all the
credit and thank Mr. Asmussen for allowing me to ride such a nice
horse.”
This was the second turf stakes of the meet for Asmussen, who
captured the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes last Saturday night with
Pleasantly Blessed.
Closing gamely for second was Texas Champions Day winner, Solar
Charge, a 5-year-old Texas-bred son of Authenticate trained by Karl
Broberg and ridden by Glen Murphy.
“He tried really hard; put his heart into it,” said Murphy. “I
couldn’t ask for anything else; it was a great horse race.”
Trelawny, a 5-year-old Florida-bred, owned by John Stavropoulus ran
third under rider James Graham.
“It might have been just a tad too short,” said Graham of the five
furlong distance. “He traveled pretty good, and ran the same speed
he did at Fair Grounds (:57 and change); he just needed more
ground.”
Great Mills was sent off as the third betting choice and rewarded
his backers with a win payout of $11.20. This was the fifth career
win for the dark bay colt, who picked up a check for $45,000,
vaulting his total earnings over the $200,000 mark.
Her Man ran fourth, followed by Flat Back, Southern Style, Uno
Ducksy, Great Hope, Penney N A Prayer and Winchester Bay.
Sam Houston Race Park hosted the 5th Annual Wiener Dog Races this
evening, a very popular promotion. Attendance for the Saturday
evening card was 7,428.
The 2012 Thoroughbred meet continues through Monday, March 12, with
post times set for Friday and Saturday (7 p.m.), Sunday (5 p.m.) and
Monday
(1 p.m.). The meet will feature special events including Ladies
Night on February 25 and Camel & Ostrich Races on March 10. The park
will also host a 27-day Quarter Horse Meet from March 22 – May 19.
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment
facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers
a variety of attractions including 19 luxury suites overlooking the
race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at
the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Champion Energy Services
Jockey Club. Sam Houston Race Park Platinum Partners include Bud
Light and Champion Energy Services. For more information on upcoming
shows, events and tickets, please visit
www.shrp.com .
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