Mr Money Bags romps in Jim’s Orbit Stakes

Mr Money Bags could be headed to the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby next month after his 11 1/2-length win in Saturday night’s $65,000 Jim’s Orbit division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

The race was one of two stakes on the card, with Cowgirls Like Us taking down the fourth stakes race of her career in the $65,000 Two Altazano division of the Texas Stallion Stakes.

Mr Money Bags ($2.80) broke well under Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez and quickly moved to the lead through an opening quarter in 22.53 seconds. He proceeded to maintain a clear advantage through a half-mile in 45.80 before opening up on the field in the stretch. Mr Money Bags covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.86.

“He’s a very nice horse,” trainer Mike Neatherlin said.

Neatherlin told Sam Houston publicity before the race that a goal for Mr Money Bags is the Sunland Derby.

The horse won his debut in New Mexico, in a maiden special weight at Zia Park. He then moved to two turns for the $75,000 Big Drama at Delta Downs and ran third to Six Shooter, who has since finished fourth in the $150,000 Smarty Jones and Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes, both Kentucky Derby points races at Oaklawn.

Roy Cobb bred and owns Mr Money Bags, a Triple Crown nominee by Silver City. The horse has now won 3 of 4 starts and has earnings of $87,300.

My Bling finished second in the Jim’s Orbit, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Truly Bling.

Cowgirls Like Us ($2.10) cut back to one turn for the Two Altazano and tracked pacesetter Golden Lullaby through an opening quarter in 23.23 and a half-mile in 47.30 before going on to cover six furlongs in hand in 1:12.40.

“With her class, she’s going to kick on,” winning rider Deshawn Parker said.

Cowgirls Like Us was a 2 3/4-length winner over Golden Lullabye. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Stormieis Blue.

Cowgirls Like Us registered her first career stakes win in an August division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park. She then won that track’s $75,000 La Senorita at a mile before winning at that same distance in December, in the $100,000 Trapeze at Remington Park.

Cowgirls Like Us is a daughter of My Golden Song who races for her breeder, Doug Scharbauer. She is trained by Bret Calhoun. Last year, the connections won the Two Altazano with Howboutthiscowgirl, a full sister to Cowgirls Like Us. Cowgirls Like Us has now won 4 of 8 starts and earned $193,185.