Church Service by a Nose in the Dallas Turf Cup
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (May 26, 2008) – Robert Tjosvold’s Church Service, trained by Mike Mitchell, produced a strong stretch rally to capture the Grade 3 $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup on Monday at Lone Star Park.
Ridden by Brice Blanc, Church Service bided his time at the back of the pack behind moderate opening fractions of :25.29, :50.91, and 1:15.04 before launching a wide run two furlongs from home. With time running out approaching the finish, Church Service dug in determinedly to catch the Bobby Frankel-trained Storm Military in the final jump. Church Service covered the one-mile-and-an-eighth distance in 1:50.54. Red Rock Creek rallied along the rail to finish one and a quarter lengths back in third.
“I’ve ridden him the past and it’s his thing to come from out of it, and he finished up very strong today,” said winning jockey Brince Blanc. “A horse like this with a strong turn of foot can overcome a slow early pace, and I was really confident that he could out kick them.”
In winning the Dallas Turf Cup, Church Service earned his first graded stakes victory and recorded his fourth victory from 21 career starts. The $120,000 winners share of the purse increased Church Service’s lifetime earnings to $310,060.
Church Service paid $7.60, $3.40, $3.20, runner-up Storm Military returned $2.80, $2.40, and Red Rock Creek paid $6.60 for show. Going Ballistic, Swains News, Eighteenthofmarch, Jazz Quest, and Scrappy Roo completed the order of finish.
Lone Star Park, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, will run its 65-day Spring Thoroughbred Season from April 10 through July 27, 2008 with live racing every Thursday through Sunday. The first live race begins at 6:35 p.m. on weeknights and 1:35 p.m. on weekends and Monday, May 26, with two special 5 p.m. twilight programs on July 3-4 that include post-race fireworks. Additional information on Lone Star Park can be found online at www.lonestarpark.com.
Ouija Board Sets Stake Record
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (May 26, 2008) – Pin Oak Stable’s Brownie Points, trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel and ridden by Luis Quinonez, won the 12th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff on Monday at Lone Star Park.
Patiently handled for three quarters of a mile behind fractions of :23.65, :47.65, and 1:11.57, Brownie Points rallied through the stretch to complete the one mile mission in a stakes record time of 1:35.82. Longshot Tears I Cry finished one and three quarters lengths back in second, and post time favorite Costume was another half-length back in third.
“I didn’t want to be too wide around the first turn, so I dropped her over out of the gate,” said winning jockey Luis Quinonez. “She responded really well for me down the lane.”
After finishing second behind two of the top fillies and mares in the country, Hysterical Lady and Zenyatta, in her first two starts of 2008, Brownie Points gave Von Hemel his second win in the Quija Board. (Voladora 2001).
“She ran second to Lady of Venice last year (2007 Ouija Board Distaff), who was probably the best filly and mare turf miler in the country,” said Von Hemel. “We knew she liked this course and she was doing great. We had a lot of confidence today.”
With the win, Brownie Points improved her career mark to eight wins from 22 starts and the $120,000 first-place prize pushed her career earnings to $806,309.
Brownie Points paid $10.00, $5.40, $3.00, runner-up Tears I Cry returned $13.20, $5.00, and Costume paid $2.20 for show. Candy Ball, Emma Grace, Forest Melody, My Three Sisters, Super Freaky, Barbette, Buddha Lady, and Elliecat completed the order of finish.
Lone Star Park, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, will run its 65-day Spring Thoroughbred Season from April 10 through July 27, 2008 with live racing every Thursday through Sunday. The first live race begins at 6:35 p.m. on weeknights and 1:35 p.m. on weekends and Monday, May 26, with two special 5 p.m. twilight programs on July 3-4 that include post-race fireworks. Additional information on Lone Star Park can be found online at www.lonestarpark.com.
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