Ghost Is Clear captures Sam Houston Sprint Cup

Ghost Is Clear won his third straight race on Saturday night, when he edged Daybreak Dreamer by a nose in the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup. It was another length and a half back in third to Rise Up.

Ghost Is Clear ($6.80) came into the six-furlong race for older horses off back-to-back wins at Turfway Park, his most recent a nose score in the Forego Stakes on Jan. 17.

In the race at Sam Houston, Ghost Is Clear was content to sit about three lengths off the pace as Daybreak Dreamer and Johnny Whip dueled through an opening quarter in 23.38 seconds and a half-mile in 46.46. Ghost Is Clear advanced on the turn, came five wide into the stretch, and on the wire caught Daybreak Dreamer, who had shaken Johnny Whip. Ghost Is Clear covered the distance on a track rated fast in 1:10.86.

"He made a really good run," said Deshawn Parker, who was aboard Ghost Is Clear for owner-trainer Mike Maker. "He gave me a real good kick."

Maker has now shipped in and won three stakes this meet at Sam Houston, his others with Coalport in the Grade 3, $200,000 Connally Cup and the Magna Breeze in the $50,000 Jersey Village.

Ghost Is Clear on Saturday night improved his career record to 13 wins from 38 starts for earnings of $483,700.