Direct Dial, Howboutthiscowgirl get Texas Stallion Stakes wins

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen had one more stakes winner on the night following Gun Runner's turn in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday. Direct Dial came through for the barn at Retama Park in a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes. It was the first stakes victory for Direct Dial, who spent the summer in New York.

Retama put on two divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes on Saturday, each for 2-year-olds over six furlongs. Howboutthiscowgirl was a 2 1/2-length winner over favorite Shes Our Fastest in the fillies division. Each race was worth $65,000.

Direct Dial ($4) ran in two stakes while in New York, finishing second in the $150,000 Tremont in June at Belmont Park, then seventh in the Grade 3 Sanford on July 22 at Saratoga in his out preceding the Texas Stallion Stakes. He was always prominent Saturday, pushing dueling leaders Kats Second Silver and Silis through an opening quarter in 21.75 seconds, then moving to the lead through a half-mile in 44.92. In the stretch, Direct Dial outdueled Kats Second Silver and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:10.59.

Jareth Loveberry was aboard Direct Dial for breeder and owner W.S. Farish. Direct Dial, a debut winner in April at Keeneland, has now won two of four starts and earned $96,820. He is a son of Too Much Bling.

Howboutthiscowgirl ($10) made every pole a winning one Saturday night, leading the field through fractions of 21.93 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.98 for the half-mile before getting the distance in 1:10.63. Iram Diego was aboard for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Howboutthiscowgirl is a daughter of My Golden Song who races for her breeder, Doug Scharbauer. She has now won three of five starts and earned $76,920. Howboutthiscowgirl won her debut in June in a maiden special weight at Lone Star and two races later won an allowance at Remington before notching her first stakes win Saturday night.