Praying Monk, piloted by Fernando Fonseca-Soto won the $35,000 Wrangler Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday evening by 3/4-length.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Lone Star Park

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TEXAS–OCTOBER 21, 2023–Ten two-year-old juveniles vied for top spot in the $35,000 Wrangler Stakes at Lone Star Park Saturday night. It was Praying Monk who scored the victory in the 350-yard stakes race, which was the fourth of ten stakes scheduled on the evenings card.

Fernando Fonseca-Soto rode Praying Monk to his 3/4-length victory over Sticky Lou Who in :17.725 seconds for a 92 speed index. The duo's strong drive resulted in the $16,100 winner's share of the purse which ballooned his career earnings to $33,889. The 3-1 odd first place finish paid $10.00 to win. 

Conditioned by Dark Peery, Praying Monk has lit the board four of five starts, breaking his maiden earlier this season at Remington Park. The son of Im A Fancy Pyc now has two career wins.

The winning connections of Praying Monk accept the Wrangler Stakes trophy at Lone Star Park.
© Dustin Orona Photography

Praying Monk was sold by his breeder Kelly Yother Equine LLC for $11,500 in the 2022 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, then was purchased for $24,000 in last year's Heritage Yearling Sale by his current owner MOK 4 Racing.

Sticky Lou Who, piloted by Ricky Ramirez, won the bob for second over Princess Chenoa. The Shawna Manriquez trained filly has lit the board six of eight starts with one win and $25,647 in the bank.

The daughter of Big Lew broke her maiden in this year's Rocky Mountain Futurity trials where she returned for a sixth place finish and was also a finalist in the Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge Stakes earlier this month. Bred in Oklahoma by Duane Murphy, Sticky Lou Who is owned by Nathan Murphy and out of Sydney Lou Who by Freighttrain B.

Jockey Luciano Duenez and Princess Chenoa were in the lead right out of the gate nearly to the finish but got caught at the wire for third. With a race record of 2-1-1 from five starts, the daughter of Hawkeye has earned $28,870 for owner Richard Hawkins. She is conditioned by trainer Marc Jungers.

Princess Chenoa was a $31,500 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate in 2022. Bred by Sandra Garnett in Texas, she is out of Loose Play by Intimidator.

Relentless Warrior, Rustys Cowgirl, Wicked Bogie, Elverna Bradshaw, Apollitical Cruz, Listen Linda B and Aint I A Kings Girl rounded out the order of finish.