Eagle Lake captures WinStar

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Eagle Lake took the lead soon after the start in the Grade 3, $200,000 WinStar Distaff at Lone Star Park on Monday and never relinquished it on her way to a two and a half length win over Little Treasure. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Magic Mission.

With the win, Eagle Lake gave her trainer, Cole Norman, a sweep of the two richest races run on a card of seven stakes worth $1 million. Norman also won the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap with Pie N Burger($15).

Eagle Lake($18) was clear of her rivals soon after the start of the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares, and put up fractions of 24.04 seconds for the opening quarter and 49.48 seconds for the half over a course rated soft. In the stretch, she had enough to hold off a bid from Little Treasure and covered the distance in 1:43.02.

"I had everything my way," said Gerard Melancon, who rode Eagle Lake for Turf Express.

Eagle Lake earned $120,000 for the win, which was her 11th from 37 starts. Her earnings now stand at $391,143.

Earlier on the card, Norman won the $100,000 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint with That Tat($18) to bring his number of stakes wins on the program to three. That tied the record set by Steve Asmussen, who won three stakes on Lone Star Million Day in 1999.

O Hannah's Royalrock ($3.60) edged pacesetter Lauren Lynn at the wire for a half-length win in the $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes for 3-year-old fillies bred in Texas. It was another two lengths back in third to Shannons Valentine. Pat Day rode Hannah's Royalrock for Asmussen, who has now won three runnings of the Valor Farm.