Control Stake uncatchable in Sam Houston Sprint Cup

Control Stake was in control of the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup from the bell on Saturday night, setting all the pace and darting home three lengths the best over Johnny Whip. It was another neck back in third to 4-5 favorite Double Ours.

The Sprint Cup was one of three stakes on the card. Expect Royalty ($15.20) accounted for the $50,000 Houston Distaff and Bully Good ($23.40) won the $50,000 Houston Turf.

Control Stake ($4.60) set fractions of 22.57 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.60 for the half-mile, and then had more for the drive as he went on to cover six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.99. Deshawn Parker rode the winner for Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss.

“Tom told me the horse has to be in front, so kick him out there and he’ll do the rest,” Parker said. “He pinned his ears like he really wanted to do it. I was very impressed with him.”

Control Stake is a 4-year-old by Discreetly Mine and he was bred in Florida by BPN.

Expect Royalty was up for a nose win over Whiskey Eyes in the Distaff, a 1 1/16-mile turf race restricted to fillies and mares bred in Texas. She covered the distance on firm ground in 1:44.19. Iram Diego was aboard for Loyana Pollock and trainer Leroy Pollock. Expect Royalty is a 6-year-old mare by Valid Expectations, and she was bred by Leroy Pollock.

Bully Good came rolling for a 1 1/2-length win over even-money favorite Magna Breeze in the Houston Turf, a 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and up bred in Texas. The winner covered the distance in 1:42.36. Gerardo Mora rode Bully Good for Myrna and Robert Luttrell and trainer Bret Calhoun. Bully Good is a 5-year-old by My Golden Song and he was bred by Robert Luttrell.