HOUSTON, TX – Two turf stakes at Sam Houston on the Houston Racing Festival card added to one trainer’s legacy and began a new legacy for another as Mike Maker won his ninth $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup and trainer Rob Atras repeated in the $100,000 Bob Bork Turf Mile. 
 
Sugoi Prevails Narrowly in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup
A 1 ½ mile race came down to the wire in a thrilling $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup as Sugoi defeated Verstappen by a nose in a photo finish.
Sugoi and Verstappen were locked in stride late in the stretch, but the 8-year-old son of Karakontie prevailed as trainer Mike Maker earned his ninth victory in the stake. 
 
Maker’s assistant, Patrick White, saddled Sugoi while the accomplished turf trainer was tending to his Pegasus World Cup runners at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon. 
 
“When they came to the wire, I thought we were beat, but that’s not the first time he’s run a tight finish,” Maker admitted. “He still has more in the tank, so we will look for another race in Florida.”
“Winning my ninth Connally means a lot,” he added. “I have had some special horses and owners and owners take home the trophy. It’s a stakes I look forward to every year.”
 
Stewart Elliot rode the post-time favorite in the gelding’s first race at Sam Houston. 
“It looked like he would be laying up there close. I had plenty of horse; he dug in and gave me everything he had and ran super,” Elliot said of the win. 
 
Sugoi was never far off the lead as the veteran stalked the pace early and finished in 2:33.05.
After toiling in the claiming and allowance ranks for several years, Sugoi had a breakthrough year in 2024 when he won the Grade 3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs. He is 11 for 32 with career earnings of $793,568. 
 
Owned by Paradise Farms, Corp and David Staudacher, Sugoi was bred in Kentucky by Normandy Farm, out of the Devil His Due mare Timeless Spirit. 
Verstappen was denied by a nose and placed second for owner and trainer Brendan Walsh with Declan Cannon up.
“He was game, he just got the wrong bob,” said Cannon after the race. 
The 6-year-old War Front gelding was bred in Kentucky by Frank Hutchinson and was a 2020 Keeneland Yearling Sale graduate to the tune of $325,000. 
 
Verstappen won the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in 2023 and has multiple stakes and graded stakes placings in his career. He is 15 for 23 in the money with $734,414 in earnings. 
Ole Crazy Bone, Rock’n a Halo, Another Mystery, Johny’s Fireball, Ocelot, From the Heart, Out of Deductions, Wonderful Justice and Tiburon completed the field. 
 
The John B. Connally Turf Cup had its first running in 1995 and boasts a solid roster of past winners including Chorwon, Warleigh, Fort Prado, Rod and Staff, Swift Warrior  as well as three-time champions, Candid Glen and Bigger Picture.
 
Chasing Liberty Repeats for Atras in the $100,000 Bob Bork Mile
New York-based trainer Rob Atras won his second straight $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile, this time with Chasing Liberty ($2.80). 
 
Atras brought Neat to the winner’s circle in last year’s edition of the race, his first start at Sam Houston. Like Neat, Chasing Liberty is a 3-year-old son of Constitution. He was bred in Kentucky by his owners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, out of their Declaration of War mare Peaceful.
Fellow New York staple Manny Franco was in the irons for the victory, marking the jockey’s first visit to Sam Houston. 
 
“The horse did everything right. He ended up on the lead, and he liked the turf course. I was happy with the way he was running,” said Franco. 
 
Atras’ wife, Brittney saddled the well-bred 3-year-old while Rob tended to his Aqueduct runners.

“I thought he ran a great race and Manny, who rides so well for our barn, handled the trip perfectly,” said Atras. We’ll see how he comes out of the Bob Bork Turf and look for another stakes in New York. The Grade 3, Transylvania Stakes (won by Neat Last year) in April at Keeneland, is a logical goal.”
 
Chasing Liberty made his fifth career start on Saturday at his fifth different track. The multiple stakes winner’s most recent start was a win in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Del Mar on Breeders’ Cup weekend, but the break between races was not a concern for the connections.  
“He hadn’t run for a couple of months, but he was sharp,” said Randy Gullatt, managing partner  of Twin Creeks Racing. “This sets him up for a lot of big races in the future.”
 
Neat used his 2024 Bob Bork Stakes win as a springboard to win three graded stakes during his 3-year-old campaign. 
 
With four wins from five starts, Chasing Liberty has earned $827,301 in his career to date. The post-time favorite covered the mile on the turf course in 1:38.96.
Curahee, with Ben Curtis in the irons, finished a head behind in second place for trainer Brittany Russell and owner DARRS, Inc. The War of Will gelding was bred by Lothenbach Stables, out of the Blame mare Blameitonthemusic. 
 
Veronica Litfin’s Perry County was third, followed by Trevaggio, Brooklyn Alley Cat, Roustabout, Gunny Highway and My Wife Is Right.
 
The Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile is named in honor of the late president of Sam Houston Race Park. His sons, Dan and Michael Bork as well as his daughter, Dina, were in Houston to make the trophy presentation.

About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining and features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.  

 
Photos:  Jack Coady Photography