For Immediate Release
Saturday, April 28, 2012
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (April 28, 2012)– Casner Racing’s Endorsement, a five-year-old horse trained by Eoin Harty and ridden by Robby Albarado, powered past favored Canonize in deep stretch to win the 16th running of the Grade III, $200,000 Texas Mile for three-year-olds and upward over a fast main track at Lone Star Park on Saturday.
A Grade III winner at three who was forced to the sidelines just prior to the 2010 Kentucky Derby, Endorsement has now won two consecutive races this year and provided Harty with his first Lone Star stakes win since R Fast Lady in 2005.
“Even after his last, final workout for Derby week, I still thought he was my best chance at that point,” recalled Albarado of Endorsement. “I’ve ridden quite a few Kentucky Derbies and I thought he was the one. Unfortunately he got injured, but the fortunate thing is he got back. He’s back healed again and is getting better and better, and Mr. Casner gave me the opportunity to ride him again.”
Endorsement was able to save ground while stalking fractions of 23.70, 46.97 and 1:11.42, then was shifted off the rail by Albarado near the quarter pole after Victor Espinoza, riding runner-up Canonize, had moved past him while four wide around that turn.
“I want to give full compliments to a very professional jockey,” said Harty. “It was a very professional ride. I told Robby, put this horse on the lead and stay off the fence. Things didn't work out that way when the gates opened. When you've got a cool rider, and experienced rider, you get these results."
The $110,000 winners share of the purse boosted Endorsement’s lifetime earnings over half a million dollars from four wins in eight career starts.
“It’s so much fun to win this race at Lone Star Park, in my hometown,” said owner Bill Casner. “This horse is a really special horse. He is a typical Distorted Humor. He’s got so much grit and try. He ran just an incredibly gritty race today, and Robby rode him to a tee. Just couldn’t be happier.”
Endorsement paid $7.00, $3.40 and $2.80, runner-up Canonize returned $2.80 to place and show, and Get in Da House paid $5.60 to show. Coyote Legend, Moonshine Mullin, Oak Motte, Omniscient, Lydia’s Last Step, Fifteen Love and Hurricane Ike completed the order of finish.
Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Global Gaming Solutions LLC, offers a53-day 2012 Spring Thoroughbred Season which opens Thursday, April 12 and concludes on Sunday, July 8. Live racing will be held four days a week, Thursday and Friday at 6:35 p.m. (except Thursday, May 31 and Thursday, July 5 when there will be no live racing), and Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The racing program on Memorial Day, May 28, will start at 1:35 p.m. Special twilight programs will be held at 5 p.m. on both Tuesday, July 3 (with post-race concert by award-winning country artist Pat Green) and Wednesday, July 4 (with the Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration).
The track’s 26-day, 2012 Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses will be held from Sept. 14 to Nov. 10.
Lone Star Park is also home to the multi-million dollar simulcast racebook, sports bar and event venue, Bar & Book. The 36,000 square foot venue is open to the public 363 days a year.
For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com
Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation with a primary business focus of pursuing entertainment, gaming and racing related opportunities in emerging jurisdictions in the United States and overseas as well as acquisition of regional gaming and entertainment assets. GGS LLC is the parent company of GG RP, which owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and GG LSP. Global Gaming Solutions, LLC, is the track operator who owns the license to operate Lone Star Park and leases the property from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation.
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