Two-time stakes winner V Golden Game will make his next start in the $35,000 Karen Utecht Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Lone Star Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

GRANDPRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 7, 2025—Saturday night at Lone Star Park promises fireworks in the feature event, the $35,000 Karen Utecht Memorial Stakes, drawing a full and competitive field of Paints and Appaloosas set to dash 350 yards in Race 10 on the twelve-race card. Post time is scheduled for 8:15 PM (CT).

At the heart of this year’s renewal is a budding rivalry between two of the division’s brightest stars: V Golden Game and Cowboy Heartbreak, who have traded blows throughout their 2025 campaigns. The race is named to honor the late Karen Utecht, a respected Paint and Appaloosa racing community contributor.

Installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, V Golden Game enters off a strong season, already claiming victories in both the $25,000 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity and the $25,000 Colors of the Wind Paint & Appaloosa Maturity. Trained by Raul Rodriguez, Jr. for owner Oscar Rivera Cardona, the four-year-old gelding has pushed his earnings to $85,965 and now looks to sweep the trio of major stakes in Texas for the breed.

Sired by standout Paint stallion Crm Livewire, V Golden Game is out of the Quarter Horse mare Game Hi, by Game Patriot. He was bred in Oklahoma by Aubrey L. Garcia and will break from post seven under Victor M. Urieta, Jr., who returns in the irons after guiding the gelding to both stakes victories this year.

Second choice on the morning line at 3-1, Cowboy Heartbreak has been a formidable rival to V Golden Game in 2025, finishing runner-up to him twice before turning the tables in the $25,000 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Maturity, a gutsy win that elevated his seasonal earnings to $53,682.

A Texas-bred gelding sired by Boknaai (QH) out of Camo Cowgirl by Awesome Chrome, Cowboy Heartbreak represents a potent home team connection. Bred by Sandra Garnett, he is trained and owned by Zackery N. Rios and will break from the outside post ten with Nestor Duran in the saddle.

The field could be further complicated by a pair of also-eligible (AE) entries that pose serious threats should they draw in due to scratches. Both bring class and speed, including:

Pt Rose (AE #11, 5-2), Captain Fancy (AE #12, 2-1)

The Karen Utecht Memorial continues to highlight the talent and depth in the Paint and Appaloosa divisions, with proven veterans and emerging stars lining up. With rivalries well-established and championship implications in play, the 350-yard sprint promises high-speed drama under the lights at Lone Star Park.

The Lone Star Park races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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