Calhoun and Parker strike again, winning Spirit of Texas with Bravura

Trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Deshawn Parker continued their dominance of the Texas Champions stakes at Sam Houston on Monday, when they captured the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes with Bravura. It was the fourth Texas-bred stakes win for the Calhoun-Parker team since Friday.

The series of seven stakes concludes Tuesday with the $50,000 Star of Texas, but neither Calhoun nor Parker will be represented in the race.

Bravura ($4.40) was always prominent in the Spirit of Texas, for 4-year-olds and up. He attended fractions of 22.53 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.82 for the half-mile before going on to cover the six furlongs in 1:10.58. Bravura won by 2 3/4 lengths over Reflector, and it was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Calhoun trainee Supermason.

Bravura is a son of Early Flyer who races for his breeder, Victoria Ashford. He is a half-brother to past Spirit of Texas winner Triumph and Song. Bravura has now won 5 of 11 starts and $179,752.

The other stakes wins for Calhoun and Parker over the final week of the meet have been the Bara Lass with Kat’s Infatuation and the San Jacinto with More Than Most, both Friday night, and the Yellow Rose with Zippit E on Saturday.

There was one other stakes on the card Monday, the $50,000 Groovy for 3-year-olds bred in Texas. Rumpole ($2.40) delivered as the favorite, dueling for the lead and prevailing by 1 3/4 lengths over Contrarytoordinary. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Shaded. Rumpole covered six furlongs in 1:11.35.

David Cabrera was aboard the winner for Fletcher Properties and trainer Bob Young. Rumpole is by Too Much Bling.