HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 11, 2015—After getting squeezed early, Dashes Midnight angled inside under jockey Santos Carrizales, was able to slip through and then draw off to an eight-length winning margin over Ec Cartel in the $25,380 Zoetis Texas Distance Challenge Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. Cmb Numero Uno finished another length back in third.

“He was ready tonight,” said Carrizales. “Mr. James is a great trainer and takes care of these older horses so well.”

Saddled by James Gerhards, for owners Joe and Elaine McAnally, Dashers Midnight completed the 870 yards in :45.949 seconds to earn a 95 speed index. The $12,436 winner's purse boosted his career earnings mark to over $167,000.

“Well, actually, I wasn’t sure he was up for the race,” said Joe McAnally. “He’s 8 now, but we wanted one more shot at it and he raced really, really well Every big race we run in, Santos does it for us; he’s a great 870 rider. The final will be just one hour from our home. Maybe the third time will be the charm!”

The Texas homebred son of Some Dasher is out of the Heza Fast Man mare Sheza Moon Bar. The multiple stakes winner of seven races was the defending Zoetis Texas Distance Challenge winner. Last season Dashers Midnight used that race as a springboard to $100,000 Zoetis Distance Challenge Championship(G1) at Prairie Meadows where he finished second.

Tonight's win secured him another starting spot in the 2015 $100,000 Zoetis Distance Challenge Championship(G1) to be contested November 7 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Entering off an allowance win on March 28th, Ec Cartel earned $5,330 for his second place effort. The 6-year-old Tinys First Corona gelding races for owner Alejandro Carrion and trainer Leslie Padilla. Enrique Carrion bred the bay gelding in Texas from the Zevi (TB) mare Twayna Too. He has earned $40,180.

It was the first start this season for the multiple stakes-placed Cmb Numero Uno who finished third for owners Alisha Jardine and Craig Giles. Bred in Idaho by CMB Don Keys Racing Stables, Cmb Numero Uno is trained by Michael Adams and was ridden by Foriberto Maldonado. The Dos Poruno 7-year-old is out of the thoroughbred mare Shergars Revenge, by Shergar's Best (IRE).

The Field Cricket was disqualified from fourth and placed sixth for interference.

Completing the official order of finish were Speed Bok, Bling Bling Bok, The Field Cricket and Pantache.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.