Grand Contender joins exclusive club with Lone Star Handicap win

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Grand Contender became just the third horse in Lone Star Park history to sweep the meet’s two richest dirt races when he rolled to a four-length win over Donoharm in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on Monday. Last month, Grand Contender captured the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile to join a club that in 17 years had been populated by only Dixie Dot Com (2001) and Master Rick (2013).

The Lone Star Handicap was held on an overcast, comfortable afternoon, with morning rains having made for a muddy track that was sealed. Grand Contender was the 2-5 favorite, having won back-to-back stakes at Delta Downs and Lone Star.

He did not disappoint. Grand Contender ($2.80) settled a few paths off the rail, taking the field through fractions of 24.32 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.90 for the half-mile. He continued on through six furlongs in 1:11.82 and a mile in 1:37.30, while turning back a bid from Donoharm. Grand Contender went on to cover the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.83.

“I thought he ran a real nice race,” said Tom Amoss, who trains Grand Contender for Maggi Moss. “I thought the pace was legitimate, and I was really pleased with his kick the last eighth of a mile.”

Richard Eramia was aboard Grand Contender for the second time ever, having guided the horse to victory in the Texas Mile.

“I let him run the last three-sixteenths and he opened up very good,” said Eramia.

The remaining order of finish in the Lone Star was F J Uncle Vic in third, followed by Called to Serve, He Has Bling and Texas Air.

Grand Contender was winning beyond a mile for the first time in his career, and Amoss said he could run in the Governor’s Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race run each August at Remington Park. The Governor’s Cup is the final leg of the Global Gaming Triple, for which Grand Contender is the points leader based on his wins in the Texas Mile and Lone Star. The horse with the most points for finishes in all three races earns a $15,000 bonus from Global, which owns both Lone Star and Remington.

Grand Contender earned $122,000 for his win Monday. He has now won 8 of 22 starts and $540,860. Grand Contender was a $20,000 claim by Moss in August 2012. He is a 6-year-old gelding by Strong Contender, was bred in Kentucky by Epona Thoroughbreds.

Amoss said he isn't sure what is next for Grand Contender.