Asmussen, Maker continue domination of Houston Racing Festival

Bellamore dug in to get past Free Like a Girl and give trainer Steve Asmussen a record fifth win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.

Bellamore won by neck, while Free Like a Girl finished 4 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Corningstone.

The Houston Ladies Classic anchored the Houston Racing Festival of five stakes that included the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup won by Dynadrive.

Bellamore ($7) had one horse beat early in the Houston Ladies Classic as Corningstone and Free Like a Girl swapped the lead through fractions of 24.05 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.92 for the half-mile and 1:13.88 for six furlongs. Bellamore began to pick off horses down the backside, raced three wide around the final turn, and pushed ahead of Free Like a Girl late to cover the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated good in 1:46.24.

“The other filly dug in and my filly, she dug in, too,” winning rider Stewart Elliott said in a post-race interview broadcast by Sam Houston.

“I was sitting on some horse and we were able to get it done.”

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Asmussen trains Bellamore for Kaleem Shah Inc. She is a daughter of Empire Maker and a half-sister to stakes winner Victory Formation. Bellamore was winning her first stakes race and her victory in the Houston Ladies Classic improved her career record to 4 for 20 with earnings of $644,992.

Asmussen won the Houston Ladies Classic for the third straight year and Elliott, for the second consecutive year.

Asmussen’s previous winners in the race are Midnight Bisou in 2019, Lady Apple in 2020, and Pauline’s Pearl in 2022 and 2023.

Dynadrive takes Connally

Dynadrive gave trainer Mike Maker a record eighth win in the Connally Turf Cup when he tracked the pace set by Ocelot and went on to a 3 3/4-length win over that one in the 1 1/2-mile race. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to Maker-trained Red Run.

Dynadrive ($13.80) raced just off fractions of 25.56 seconds for the opening quarter, 51.70 for the half-mile, 1:18.32 for six furlongs, and 1:44.18 for the mile, before moving past the leader in the stretch and quickening late. Dynadrive covered the distance on yielding ground in 2:34.00.

“Turning for home I had a lot of horse,” winning rider Reylu Gutierrez said in a post-race interview broadcast by Sam Houston.

Maker trains Dynadrive for Three Diamonds Farm. The horse has now won 9 of 33 starts for earnings of $588,015. He is a son of Temple City.

Maker’s other Connally Cup winners are Papaw Bodie in 2012; Admiral Kitten, 2014; Coalport, 2015; Da Big Hoss, 2016; and Bigger Picture from 2017-2019.

* Gutierrez won a second stakes race on the card when he guided Neat to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds. The winner was prominent throughout after early leader Judge McBee blew the first turn.

Neat ($4.80) covered the distance on yielding ground in 1:39.35. Rob Atras trains the son of Constitution for Red White and Blue Racing.

* Too Much Kiki ($4) led a Bret Calhoun-trained trifecta in the $75,000 Bara Lass, which she won by 5 3/4 lengths over Successfulpath. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Speak Softly.

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The winner covered the distance on a good track in 1:13.10. Fernando Jara was aboard the daughter of Too Much Bling for Mansfield Racing.

* Tiz Considered ($7) was a 2 1/2-length winner over Victory for Vets in the $75,000 Groovy. The winner covered six furlongs on a good track in 1:13.30.

Freddy Manrrique was aboard the son of Jimmy Creed for Michael and Linda Mazoch and trainer Austin Gustafson.

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