Book Note takes Conroe

Book Note broke sharp and never looked back for a three and three-quarter length win over 49-1 longshot Giant Bellyache in the $35,000 Conroe for 3-year-olds at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. It was another neck back in third to Leo's Last Hurrahy.

Book Note set fractions of 21.15 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.27 seconds for the half-mile mark in the six-furlong race, before going on to cover the distance in 1:09.82. He paid $4.40 as a slight favorite over Grand Steal, a closer who was blocked on the turn.

Kerwin Clark rode Book Note for Tom Durant and trainer Jack Bruner. The Conroe was the first stakes win for Book Note, who in his only other stakes appearance finished second to eventual Grade 3 winner Watchem Smokey in the $50,000 Airline at Louisiana Downs.

Book Note, a son of Notebook, earned $21,000 for the win Saturday, which was his third in seven starts. His earnings are $67,140.