Racing


Thecartelofmiracle Surprises at 13-1 In Grade 1 $873,616 Texas Classic Futurity
Thecartelofmiracle (#7) holds off Hotstepper(#9) and This Is An Eagle (#8) in the G1 $873,616 Texas Classic Futurity.

© Martin Canales / StallioneSearch
Thecartelofmiracle Surprises at 13-1 In Grade 1 $873,616 Texas Classic Futurity

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—NOVEMBER 11, 2017—At odds of 13-1, Thecartelofmiracle held off posttime favorite Hotstepper by a neck to win the Grade 1 $873,616 Texas Classic Futurity Saturday night at Lone Star Park. This Is An Eagle finished a neck back in a blanket finish to take third.

Ridden by jockey Manuel Gutierrez, Thecartelofmiracle broke in and bumped hard at the start but recovered to complete the 400 yard course in :19.800 seconds, a 94 speed index into a 11 mph crosswind.

Trainer Alonso Neri saddled the son of the Corona Cartel stallion Tough And Good to his fourth career win in nine starts for owner Mauro Luciano Villarreal.

"He did everything great as far as coming back and eating well," trainer Neri said following his first Grade 1 win. "We left it all in God’s hands and thank God we got the win today."

TQHA Executive Director Val Clark and TQHA Director of Racing Rob Werstler presents the winning connections of Thecartelof miracle the Texas Classic Futurity stakes trophy.
© Dustin Orona Photography
The $388,761 Texas Classic Futurity winners' purse boosted the brown geldings' earnings to $419,359. He also qualified to the Grade 2 Dash For Cash Futurity and the Sam Houston Juvenile Invitational earlier this year.

"Mani (Gutierrez) did an awesome job. I want to thank everyone for the opportunity and it was a really good race. We’ll give him a little rest and celebrate the win.," Neri added.

Jose Estrada bred Thecartelofmiracle in Texas from the Gold Medal Jess mare Its Jess A Miracle.

Runner-up Hotstepper just missed in a game effort under AQHA Racing champion jockey Cody Jensen. C. Dwayne Gilbreath conditions the One Famous Eagle gelding for the partnership of R.D. Hubbard, Johnny Cope, Henry Southway and Rafter W Stables.

Bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP, from the Tres Seis mare Pandorum, Hotstepper entered the trials off a third-place effort in the Grade 1 $3 million All American Futurity(G1) on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs. Tonight's runner-up purse brings the bay geldings earnings total to over $485,000.

After winning his Rainbow and All American Futurity trials, but failing to qualify over the summer, Sam Houston Futurity(G2) winner This Is An Eagle picked up $96,098 for finishing third.

Trainer Leon Bard trains the Texas-bred son of One Famous Eagle for owner Mary Lynne Thompson. Pete Scarmardo bred the TQHA high-selling yearling of 2016 from the First Down Dash mare Lady Lila, a half-sister to champion sire Desirio. The graded winner has earned $297,038.

Thecartelofmiracle paid $29.20 to win, $10.40 to place and $5.80 to show. Hotstepper returned $3.40 and $3.00 and This Is An Eagle paid $3.00 to show.

Starfield, Cartel Cupid, Legacy Eagle, Another Shot, Factual Basis and This Is A Deal Too completed the field. Streakin Seis Corona was scratched.

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MEET END CHAMPIONS

Winning his seventh Lone Star Park champion jockey title was Ricky Ramirez. He captured 27 wins during the 26-day meeting. Second was Luis Vivanco with 23 wins and Francisco Calderon was third with 18 wins.

Trainer Trey Wood clinched his sixth Lone Star Park training title with 21 victories. Leon Bard was second at 15 wins and Jimmy Padgett was third with 10.

The owner title came down to the final night of racing when in the 8th race, Paragon Farms, LLC’s Hierarchy won giving them seven wins and breaking a three-way tie with Terry & Irene Stennett and HEH Holdings, LLC each with six.

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Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Texas Partners LSP and GG LSP. The track offers a 26-day 2017 Fall Meeting of Champions Season, which opens Friday, September 15 and concludes on Saturday, November 11. Live racing will be held three days a week, Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 6:35 p.m. For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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.