Algebra outruns Quarterback Dak in Wayne Hanks Memorial
Algebra is establishing himself as a Texas-bred of note. He improved his 2022 record to 4 for 6 on Sunday when he held off a fast-closing Quarterback Dak for a half-length victory in the $75,000 Wayne Hanks Memorial at Lone Star Park.
The 6 1/2-furlong race for Texas-breds was one of five restricted stakes on the card. They were worth a total of $375,000.
Algebra ($3.80) was away last of all as the ground appeared to break out from under him at the start of the race for 3-year-olds and up. He proceeded to move to the lead and dueled with Mac B Quick through an opening quarter in 22.63 seconds. Algebra shook his pace rival through a half-mile in 44.70 and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:17.55.
“He likes a fight,” winning trainer J.R. Caldwell said. “He’s been unbeatable. He will not let someone pass him.”
Algebra was winning his third straight race, all this meet at Lone Star. Lane Luzzi has ridden the horse all year for Farmers Fillies Racing, which claimed Algebra for $25,000 in November.
Algebra began his streak on April 29, when he won an allowance over former Texas-bred of the year Mr Money Bags. The race scratched down to two horses. Algebra then captured a mile allowance over Kenai Bob on May 27. Kenai Bob returned to win the $75,000 Texas Hall of Fame Stakes on Sunday at Lone Star.
Algebra is a 5-year-old by Algorithms. He has now won 10 of 32 starts for earnings of $308,216.
Asmussen, Elliott sweep 2-year-old stakes
The team of Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Stewart Elliott swept both divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes.
Bling Bling Bling ($3.40) was a 6 1/4-length winner of the $75,000 Staunch Avenger for 2-year-old colts and geldings. He dueled on the lead through an opening quarter in 22.15 seconds, raced four wide around the turn, and was in command after a half-mile in 45.84. Bling Bling Bling went on to cover five furlongs in 59.08 seconds.
Come to the Party ($5.80) was a head winner of the $75,000 Pan Zareta for 2-year-old fillies. She broke sharply, set fractions of 22.44 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.60 for the half-mile before going on to cover five furlongs in 59.97.
Both horses were winning their maidens in the stakes races.
Bling Bling Bling entered off a third-place finish in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs won by Two of a Kind, who returned in his next start to win the Tremont at Belmont Park. Bling Bling Bling is by Too Much Bling.
Come to the Party ran third in a maiden special weight at Lone Star one start prior to the Pan Zareta. She is by Bradester.
Kenai Bob sets course record
Kenai Bob won the Texas Hall of Fame in course-record time, when he covered 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in a posted 1:39.35. The previous mark was 1:40.
Kenai Bob ($5.20) dueled through fractions of 23.40 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.48 for the half-mile, and 1:09.61 for six furlongs in the race run around two turns. He was clear through a mile in 1:33.10 and had enough to hold off Stans Hookin Bull by a nose. It was the third stakes victory for Kenai Bob.
The Hall of Fame was for 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas.
Floyd Wethey Jr. rode Kenai Bob. Francisco Bravo trains the horse for his breeder, Michael Grossman. Kenai Bob is a son of Shackleford.
It was announced after the race that Lone Star was verifying the final time and it was later listed as the course record in the official chart of the race Sunday.
In the other turf race on the card, No Mas Tequila ($10) rallied to win the $75,000 Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Stallion Scholarship Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths over pacesetter Discreet Smile. It was a neck back in third to Imaluckycharm, who is a half-sister to No Mas Tequila.
Karen Jacks trains the first- and third-place finishers. James Sills is the owner of No Mas Tequila, who is a daughter of Northern Afleet.
No Mas Tequila won the third stakes of her career in the Scholarship Stakes, after running 7 1/2 furlongs on firm ground in 1:26.25. The early fractions were 22.34 for the opening quarter, 45.38 for the half-mile and 1:08.03 for six furlongs.
Racing resumes Thursday night at Lone Star.