Bigger Picture wins Connally Turf Cup for third straight year

Bigger Picture put on a clinic in winning the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup for the third year in a row Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park. He stormed home from next to last for a 3 1/2-length victory over Zapperini, while it was another two lengths back to Some in Tieme in third.

“This horse really knows what he’s doing out there,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz.

The Connally, at 1 1/2 miles on turf, was one of six stakes on the card, which included the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, won by Midnight Bisou. The races were worth a total of $725,000, making the card the richest of the meet at Sam Houston.

Bigger Picture gave Ortiz his third straight win in the Connally. Mike Maker, who trains Bigger Picture for Three Diamonds Farm, was winning his sixth consecutive Connally and his seventh overall, the most among all trainers. Bigger Picture tied for the most wins in the race with Candid Glen, who won three straight from 2001-03.

“Three times in a row to win this race is pretty amazing,” Ortiz said of Bigger Picture.

Bigger Picture ($3.40) settled off the pace set by Lawless West, who took the field through fractions of 24.02 seconds for the opening quarter, 51.10 for the half-mile, 1:16.83 for six furlongs, and 1:43.79 for the mile. Bigger Picture came three wide into the stretch and ran down the leaders with authority while covering the distance on a firm course in 2:30.60.

"When he switched to his right lead in the stretch, he exploded,” said Ortiz.

The final time was quicker than his previous two wins in the race, a clocking of 2:32.24 in 2017 and 2:32.13 in 2018.

Maker said plans are to be determined for Bigger Picture, a Grade 1-winning son of Badge of Silver. He earned $120,000 for the win Sunday. Overall, the horse has compiled a record of 12 wins from 38 starts for earnings of $1,494,135.

Maker and Ortiz teamed up for a second stakes win on the card, taking the $50,000 Jersey Lilly with Susie Bee ($4.60). She fought for a neck win over Terra’s Angel, covering the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:46.99. Susie Bee is by English Channel.

Jockey Danny Sorenson had a stakes double, too, taking the $50,000 Houston Turf with Highway Song ($12.40) and the $50,000 Stonerside Sprint with Leadem in Ken ($8.20).

Highway Song closed from last for a 2 3/4-length win over Sunlit Song. Dennis Foster co-owns the winner with trainer Danny Pish. Highway Song, by My Golden Song, finished the 1 1/16-mile race for Texas-breds in 1:46.31.

Leadem in Ken rallied for a one-length win over Sightforsoreeyes, covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.45. Tyree Wolesensky owns Leadem in Ken, a son of Sky Mesa trained by Joseph Smith.

In other stakes action, Wings Locked Up ($45.60) tracked the pace and went on to a 1 1/4-length win over American Sailor in the $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint. It was a head farther back to Hogy in third. Glenn Corbett was aboard the winner, who covered five furlongs on turf in 56.40 seconds. Stuart Clinton trains Wings Locked Up, a son of Munnings, for Sad Sac Racing.