HOUSTON, TX - Texas-breds were well-represented on Saturday’s Houston Ladies Classic card in two undercard stakes: the $75,000 Gexa Groovy Stakes and the $75,000 Bara Lass Stakes.
 
Stakes Winning Breakthrough for Tizabling in the $75,000 Gexa Groovy Stakes
Tizabling kicked off the stakes portion of the Houston Racing Festival with a 1 ½-length win over Mikel W in the $75,000 Gexa Groovy Stakes.
 
It was the first career win for the gray Too Much Bling colt, whose career started with a pair of maiden races at Woodbine. He prepped for the Groovy with a third-place effort in the My Dandy Division of the Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston earlier this month. Tizabling ($14.60) sat just off a hot pace early before a gutsy move along the inside rail to take the lead in the stretch. David Cabrera was aboard for trainer Matt Hebert.
 
Mikel W, who was second in the same Texas Stallion Stakes division, finished second, while the winner of the January 4 stakes, Ring Seeker, was third. Mikel W was piloted by Iram Diego for trainer Carlos Padilla. The Bradester gelding was bred by Lynn Haverkamp, who also co-owns with Rodney Fleenor, out of Sophia’s Night, by Yes It’s True.
 
Post-time favorite Ring Seeker and Stewart Elliot stalked and could not catch Tizabling as the winner pulled away in the stretch. Ring Seeker, also a Too Much Bling colt, is trained by Steve
Asmussen for owner and breeder W.S. Farish.
 
Ring Seeker is a multiple stakes winner with $213,629 in earnings and three career wins to date, including the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Sam Houston last summer.
 
Essay was fourth, followed by Bergheim, Tom Sawyer, Uptown Tappin, Texas Creed, Midnight Humor and Famous Highway.
 
The stakes is named after one of the top Texas-bred Thoroughbreds who earned over $1.3 million in his career. Groovy was the son of Norcliffe and owned by Prestonwood Farm. He was honored with the Eclipse Award in 1987 as champion sprinter and as a stallion, sired more than 220 winners, of which 18 were stakes winners.
 
Modo Impresses as Gate-to-Wire Winner in $75,000 Bara Lass Stakes
In the second Texas-bred stake on the card, Modo flew home impressively to take the $75,000 Bara Lass Stakes.  Edgar Morales guided the Liam’s Map filly to an early lead in the six-furlong stake on the main track and finished over four lengths ahead of her competition in 1:10.88.
 
It was the first time riding in Houston for Morales, who thought highly of Modo’s performance.
 
“She broke well, but in her first time over this track, was looking around a little,” said Morales. “When I asked her, she gave me all she had!”
 
Modo ($4.80) was the morning-line favorite but went off as the second choice behind post-time favorite Glee. Tom Amoss trains Modo for owner Joel Politi, who made the trip to Sam Houston Race Park. This was his second visit since 2020 when his brilliant filly and Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress ran a game second in the Houston Ladies Classic to Lady Apple.
“Modo had only run twice coming into this, so everything is new to these young horses,” commented Politi. “She shipped to Oaklawn and did really well up there. With weather challenges everywhere, she missed some training, but Edgar said she had a lot more left in the tank, which is really encouraging. Hopefully we can  go on to do some big things with her; she is a very nice filly.” 
 
Modo was bred by Stoneview Farm, out of Academy Road, by Lemon Drop Kid. She was a $90,000 Keeneland Yearling Sale purchase in 2023. Modo debuted at Churchill Downs and broke her maiden at Oaklawn. She has two wins and $111,450 from three career starts.
 
Even-money post-time favorite Glee was second with Stewart Elliot aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen. 
Glee is an accomplished filly with multiple stakes wins prior to the Bara Lass, including the Toby Keith Stakes at Remington Park. She is three for eight lifetime with $153,034 in earnings.
 
The Honor A.P. filly is owned by Mike Rutherford, who purchased the filly for $60,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2023. Glee was bred by No Escape Ranch, out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Red Tabby. Jayde Gelner’s Tapitures Actor was third under jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., Wauneka, Evening Edge, Quinquela, Naval Woman and Global Holiday completed the field. Blingster was an early scratch
 
This stakes honors Bara Lass, a daughter of Barachois, who was bred in Texas by Sam E. Stevens. She won 17 of her 60 starts in her career, including the 1984 Santa Monica Handicap(G3) and Barbara Fritchie Handicap(G3) before retiring with career earnings of $542,362. Throughout most of her career, the talented Texas-bred mare was trained by legendary Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
 
Despite the steady drizzle throughout the afternoon, Bryan Pettigrew, Sam Houston Race Park’s Vice President and General Manager, was pleased with the support of breeders, owners and trainers, resulting in quality fields for the entire Houston Racing Festival card.
 
“Throughout the day our fans enjoyed top level competition on the turf and our main track,” he said. “We had several nationally prominent horsemen and several jockeys making their first appearance at Sam Houston Race Park. In addition, our NHC Handicapping contest attracted players from across the country with creativity galore in our Ladies Hat Contest and a Silent Auction benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF). My thanks to the entire Sam Houston Race Park Team for making this one of the most successful editions of the Houston Racing Festival.”
 
Upcoming Texas-Bred Sam Houston Race Park Stakes Schedule
Saturday, February 15                                 Texas Preview Day for Texas-breds
$75,000 Jim’s Orbit **                                   3yo C&G- 6 Furlongs 
$75,000 Two Altazano **                              3yo F- 6 Furlongs
$75,000 David E. Hooper Stakes                   4yo & up- 7 Furlongs
$75,000 Miss Bluebonnet Turf                       4yo &up F&M- 1 Mile (T)
$75,000 Houston Turf                                    4yo &up- 1 1/16 Miles (T)
 
Saturday, March 22                                      Texas Champions Day for Texas-breds
$100,000 TTA Derby                                     3yo C&G- 1 Mile and 70 yards
$100,000 TTA Oaks                                       3yo F- 1 Mile and 70 yards
$75,000 Richard King                                    4yo &up- 1 1/8 Mile (T) 
$75,000 San Jacinto                                        4yo &up F&M- 1 1/16 Mile (T) 
$75,000 Spirit of Texas                                  4yo &up- 6 Furlongs 
$75,000 Yellow Rose Stakes                          4yo &up F&M- 6 furlongs 
$75,000 Star of Texas                                     4yo &up- 1 Mile
 
** Clarence Scharbaurer, Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series 

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