Iron Fist scores in Maxxam Gold Cup
Iron Fist became a stakes winner Saturday night at Sam Houston, where he sprinted clear by 2 3/4 lengths in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup. Fear the Cowboy finished second, while it was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Money Flows.
The Maxxam was the richest of four stakes on the card. The races were worth a cumulative $250,000.
Iron Fist ($5.40) was with the pace through fractions of 23.92 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.61 for the half-mile. In the stretch, he separated himself from his rivals, going on to cover 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.88.
“He does things so easily,” said Iram Diego, who was aboard the winner for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Diego and Asmussen lead the respective rider and trainer standings at Sam Houston. Asmussen was winning the Maxxam for the third time, behind Reporting For Duty in 2008 and Z Humor in 2011.
Iron Fist earned $60,000 for the win for Stonestreet Stable and Regis Racing. He is a son of Tapit. Iron Fist is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu, and a full brother to Grade 2 winner Anchor Down. Iron Fist has now won 5 of 16 starts and $539,799.
In other stakes, Taco ($3.40) remained undefeated in four career starts when he pushed past pacesetter Tiz a Melody in the $50,000 Texas Heritage for 3-year-olds. Taco covered 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:45.67. Jesus Rios was aboard for trainer Efren Loza Jr. Taco is a son of Gio Ponti and the Group 1-winning mare That’s Life. He races for Kathleen Amaya, Raffaele Centofanti, and Daniel Alonso. Taco was making his stakes debut Saturday.
Partly Mocha ($3.60) was up on the wire to win the $50,000 Bucharest by a head over American Sailor. The winner covered five furlongs on turf in a quick 57.44 seconds. Colby Hernandez was aboard for trainer Mike Maker. Partly Mocha is a West Virginia-bred son of Half Ours who races for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. The horse was winning his second stakes of the meet at Sam Houston.
Stormquility ($8.60) surged for a neck win in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly for fillies and mares, scoring by a neck over Susie Bee. The winner covered 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:45.66. Curtis Kimes rode the winner for trainer Tim Williams. Stormquility is a daughter of After Market who races for Steve and Stacy Uhland and Barry Koch.