HOUSTON, TX- While Mother Nature could have been kinder Saturday afternoon at Sam Houston Race Park, there were some very capable performances on Texas Preview Day. The stakes portion of the program began with a victory by Golden Grit in the $77,715  Jim’s Orbit and a second stakes win this season by Blingster in $76,815 Two Altazano. 
 
Golden Grit Defeats Several Stakes Winners in the $77,715 Jim’s Orbit
Colts and geldings kicked off the stakes portion of the Texas Preview Day card with 3-year-olds in the $77,715 Jim’s Orbit. The six-furlong event featured several previous stakes winners, but a gritty performance by Golden Grit relegated them to runner-up status and earned him his first stakes score. The gelding by Golden Song by Flying was making his fifth career start for breeder and owner Fred Walden. He ran twice last summer at Lone Star Park before finishing first in a maiden special weight on December 6 at Remington Park. However, was placed second and made his 3 year-old debut here on January 4, running third in the $75,000 My Dandy under jockey Chris Landeros.
 
The gray gelding did not have the easiest of trips this afternoon, shuffled back to fifth in the early stages, but gained ground as he reached the top of the stretch before engaging in the tight battle with Tizabling and Ring Seeker. He edged clear by a head, finishing in 1:12.28 over a good main track.
 
Trainer J. R. Caldwell was asked by Trey Stiles, who handled the post-race interviews, what propelled the Golden Grit to his first career victory and stakes win this afternoon.
 
“He’s a big, tall colt and takes a while to get into stride,” said Caldwell. “He was a little green, so we put blinkers on today and it all worked out well.”
 
Breeder Fred Walden had some anxious moments when an inquiry was called in the stretch run between the top three runners, but disallowed.
 
“I sweated it for a bit but eased up after he was announced as the winner,” admitted Walden.
 
William S. Farish’s Ring Seeker, who was in pursuit of his fourth career stakes victory, settled for second. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of top Texas stallion Too Much Bling, Ring Seeker won the My Dandy here on opening weekend, before finishing third to Tizabling at Sam Houston Race Park last month in the $75,000 Gexa Groovy Stakes. Stewart Elliott had the return call on Ring Seeker, was named Texas Thoroughbred Champion 3-Year-Old earlier this year. It was recently announced that Too Much Bling will be inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame this October 4 at Lone Star Park.
 
Tizabling, who broke his maiden in his January 25 victory in the $75,000 Gexa Groovy Stakes, ran third under David Cabrera. The Too Much Bling colt was bred by Billy Clevenger and trained by Matt Hebert.
 
Mikel W, a Bradester gelding who had runner-up placings in both the My Dandy (at 17-1) and an improved effort in the Gexa Groovy Stakes, ran fourth under Iram Diego.
 
Dr Skyscraper was next, followed by Berry Mischievous and Competitive Shock.
 
The Jim’s Orbit is part of Texas Thoroughbred Association’s Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series (TSSS), a set of races for progeny of nominated Accredited Texas stallions. In 2005, the Texas Thoroughbred Association named the colts and gelding division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for Jim’s Orbit, who won the Grade 2 Ohio Derby prior to competing in the 1988 Kentucky Derby.
 
Blingster Easily Took her Second Stakes Win of the Meet in the $76,815 Two Altazano
The $76,815 Two Altazano, with seven Texas-sired 3-year-old fillies, was contested at six furlongs on the main track and the heavy favorite, Blingster, did not disappoint.
 
Owned by Landon Jordan of Mansfield Racing and trained Bret Calhoun, Blingster returned off a victory in the $75,000 Darby’s Daughter division of the Texas Stallion Stakes Series on opening weekend at Sam Houston Race Park. A daughter of Bradester out of the Proud Citizen mare Splendored, Blingster was bred in Texas by Haynes Stables, LLC & Herman's Horses, LLC and sold for $26,000 at the 2023 TTA Texas Summer Yearling Sale. She struggled in her first two starts last summer at Lone Star Park, so Calhoun gave her a break and ran her in December at Remington Park, with the goal of competing in the Darby’s Daughter, the first Texas Stallion Stakes of 2025.
 
Jose Alvarez had the return call aboard the bay filly. She dueled in the early going with Moonlight Glow, gaining momentum mid-way on the turn and drawing off by a margin of four lengths. Her final time, over the fast main track, was 1:06.25.   
Calhoun had several runners at Fair Grounds today, so his longtime assistant Hernan “Pancho” Zamudio saddled the talented filly.
 
“She ran such a professional race today,” said Calhoun from New Orleans. “Just sat and bided her time and had plenty left at the end.”
 
Zamudio joined Trey Stiles in the winner’s circle and added his praise for Blingster.
 
“She loves this track and is getting better and better every time,” he said.
 
James Wessels’ Itty Bitty Baby ran second under rider Lindey Wade, followed by Edge Chaser and Evening Edge. Tequila Kiss, Citycityblingbling and Seeking Secrets completed the order of finish.
 
Blingster ($3.60) improved her record to two wins from five starts and with today’s winner’s share of $45,189 boosted her earnings to $100,755. Trainer Bret Calhoun won last year’s Two Altazano with Mansfield Racing’s Too Much Kiki. She was recently crowned Texas Horse of the Year as well as Texas Champion Three-Year-Old Filly by the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Calhoun has an impressive legacy in the Two Altazano with eight previous titles, beginning with 2010 champion Tin Top Cat.
 
“We have options going forward and will consider the $100,000 TTA Oaks on Texas Champions Day (at a mile and 70 yards),” added Calhoun. “She’s grown and developed and has the body style to go further.”

This stakes honors Two Altazano, the talented Texas-bred filly, owned by the late Harold V. Goodman, who won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks in 1994. She also captured the 1994 Sam Houston Oaks with Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in the saddle. 

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.

 
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Photos:  Jack Coady Photography