Racing


Champion Flying Cowboy 123 Tops Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby Qualifiers
Champion Flying Cowboy 123 easily won the opening trial on Friday to set the fastest time to the Grade 1 $344,571 Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Champion Flying Cowboy 123 Tops Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby Qualifiers

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—OCTOBER 18, 2019— AQHA Racing Champion Flying Cowboy 123, last year's Texas Classic Futurity(G1) winner, will look to become only the third horse in history to sweep the Texas Classic Futurity(G1) and Texas Classic Derby(G1) when he returns to Lone Star Park on November 9th to head the Grade 1 $344,571 Texas Classic Derby(G1) final.

The industry's #3 all-time leading sire Mr Jess Perry was the first horse to win both the Texas Classic Futurity and Derby in 1994 and 1995. Leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon accomplished the feat in 2005 and 2006.

The son of leading sire Apollitical Jess took the first step toward that goal on Friday night when he won the opening Texas Classic Derby trial (Race 7) by one-length, under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, to get the fastest qualifying time of :21.576 seconds, a 96 speed index into a 7 mph crosswind.

Fm Cartel Rock, under jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr., setting the second fastest clocking in the second trial (Race 8) Friday night. © Dustin Orona Photography
Conditioned by trainer James J. Gonzales, II, Cowboy 123 races for owner Paragon Farms LLC. The sorrel colt was bred in Michigan by Carolyn Bay from the multiple champion producing Takin On The Cash mare Hot Cash 123. Flying Cowboy 123 is a half-brother to AQHA Racing World Champion Cold Cash 123 and Rainbow Juvenile winner Tough Dynasty 123.

Flying Cowboy 123 has compiled a (12) 7-2-1 record and earned $892,476. In addition to his win the Texas Classic Futurity(G1), he was also second in the Rainbow Futurity(G1), third in the All American Derby(G1) and fourth in the Ruidoso QH Derby(G1).

The 3-year-old colt will begin his stallion career in 2020 under the direction of Bob Moore Farms in Norman, Oklahoma.

First True Heart defeats fellow qualifiers Jess Master Angel and Midday News in the third Texas Classic Derby trial on Friday night at Lone Star Park. © Dustin Orona Photography
Adequan Retama Park Derby Challenge runner-up Fm Cartel Rock defeated American Hussle by three-quarters in the second trial to secure the second fastest clocking of :21.587 seconds, a 96 speed index into a 7 mph crosswind.

Trainer Robi Meche conditions the son of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess for owner Jose Fabian Hernandez. Steve D. Burns, DVM bred the four-time winner in California from the Corona Cartel mare Remember The Cartel. Ridden by jockey Raul Ramirez, Jr., the sorrel colt has banked $35,286 in 12 career starts.

First True Heart, a royally bred First Moonflash filly from the four-time champion mare Heartswideopen, by Feature Mr Jess, got her second career win in the third trial while setting the seventh fastest time of :21.789 seconds, a 91 speed index into a 7 mph crosswind.

Josue Ponce trains the brown filly for owner La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and MRB Racing LLC. James Flores rode the Juliana Hawn Hold Texas-bred earner of $13,255.

The final two trials, which featured the likes of stakes horses Jordan Eagle, Five Bar Stoli, Lynnder 16 and Wokatee On Fire to name a few, failed to break-the-bubble time of :21.915 set by Midday News who was third to First True Heart.

Apollitical Jess was the leading sire with three qualifiers. In addition to the fastest qualifier he sired 3rd fastest American Hussle and 4th fastest Coach A Comin.

For the complete list of qualifiers to the 2019 Texas Classic Derby(G1), including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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Live Quarter Horse Racing resumes Saturday, October 19 at 6:05 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. Thirteen trials for the Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity are scheduled on Saturday's race card.

Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Texas Partners LSP and Global Gaming LSP. The track offers a 16-day 2019 Quarter Horse Season, which opens Friday, September 20 and concludes on Saturday, November 9. Live racing will be held Friday and Saturday Nights at 6:05 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.

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Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation with a primary business focus of pursuing entertainment, gaming and racing related opportunities in emerging jurisdictions in the United States and overseas as well as acquisition of regional gaming and entertainment assets. GGS LLC is the parent company of GG RP, which owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and GG LSP, which owns a significant stake in Lone Star Park. GG LSP is the track operator who owns the license to operate Lone Star Park and leases the property from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation.