TC Cruising Crue Scores First Stakes Victory In $20,000 Texas Hero Juvenile At Lone Star Park

Tc Cruising Crue turned in a determined performance Saturday night at Lone Star Park, holding off favored Flying G Litos by a neck to capture the $20,000 Texas Hero Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds at 400 yards.

Ridden by Bryan Candanosa for trainer Stacy Charette-Hill, Tc Cruising Crue covered the distance in 20.319 seconds, earning a 77 speed index over a fast racing surface with a 3 mph crosswind.

The sorrel gelding, who broke from post six, moved into contention before taking command and holding off a determined late challenge from Flying G Litos. The winner returned $14.40 for a $2 win wager.

The victory marked the first stakes triumph for Tc Cruising Crue, a Texas-bred son of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Ring My Barb Wire, by Crm Livewire.

Bred by Carla Akers and Randy Perkins, Tc Cruising Crue races for Carla Akers and Randy D. Perkins. The $6,000 winner's share increased his career earnings to $25,769 from seven starts, with two victories, one second, and one third.

Flying G Litos, the 3-1 favorite, finished a neck behind the winner under jockey Jose R. Herbert, earning $4,000 for his runner-up performance.

Trained by Arnold Lewis for Flying G Litos Partnership, the 2-year-old gelding is a son of Chilitos out of Rc Smokin Hot, by The Louisiana Cartel.

Bred by April Galindo, Flying G Litos was an $11,000 purchase at the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale. The multiple stakes-placed gelding has compiled a record of one win, two seconds, and two thirds from eight starts. Saturday's runner-up finish increased his career earnings to $23,908.

Dw Showin D Off completed the trifecta, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Flying G Litos to collect $3,000 for third. The 2-year-old gelding, ridden by Cody Rodger Smith, overcame a troubled start and drifted outward late while securing the show position.

A son of champion Uncle D out of Shez Showin Off, by Sf Royal Quick Flash, Dw Showin D Off was bred and is owned by Danny J. Watkins. Zackary Stinebaugh trains the stakes-winning gelding, whose career record stands at two wins, two seconds, and two thirds from nine starts. His latest performance boosted his lifetime earnings to $67,266.

The Texas Hero Juvenile Stakes was restricted to 2-year-olds who competed in the 2026 Texas Hero Futurity trials but failed to qualify for the final. Eight horses contested Saturday night's event.

Jess Hot Mess finished fourth, followed by Jh Towanda, Catalina Scratch, Trillion, and Jh River Rat.

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