Mr Money Bags shows he's still in peak form with Spirit of Texas win
Mr Money Bags has maintained peak form for years and he continued his winning ways Saturday night with a three-length victory in the $100,000 Spirit of Texas at Sam Houston Race Park.
The race was one of seven stakes on the annual $700,000 Texas Champions Day. The races were all restricted to Texas-breds and each was worth $100,000.
Mr Money Bags ($2.10) was content to stalk the pace in third in the early stages of the Spirit of Texas, as Wonders of Hislove and Carbon Stryker dueled through an opening quarter in 21.69 seconds and a half-mile in 44.51. The eventual winner moved past the leaders into the stretch and went on to cover the six furlongs for 4-year-olds and up in 1:09.71.
The track was fast.
Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez was aboard for trainer Jaylan Clary.
It was the 10th career stakes win for Mr Money Bags, who was the Texas-bred of the year in 2019.
“It’s always special with Mr Money Bags, born and raised here in Texas,” Clary told publicity at Sam Houston.
K C Tiz Moro finished second. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Carbon Stryker, who is entered in a Thursday race at Oaklawn.
Mr Money Bags is a son of Silver City who races for Erma Cobb, widow of the horse’s late breeder, Roy Cobb. Mr Money Bags has now won 13 of 26 starts for earnings of $690,576.
In other stakes action, Lethal Move ($20.40) shuttled home for a 1 1/4-length win over Bubba Bling in the Richard King for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Lethal Move raced off the pace set by Robo, who took the field through six furlongs in 1:14.82. Lethal Move went on to cover the distance on firm turf in 1:50.74. Stewart Elliott was aboard the son of Street Move for Farms Fillies Racing and trainer J.R. Caldwell.
** Lucky’s Special ($3.60) pushed past pacesetter Legally Lethal after fractions of 22.33 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.17 for the half-mile to win the Groovy for 3-year-olds. He covered six furlongs in 1:10.81. Weston Hamilton was aboard the son of Special Rate for Victoria Heine and trainer Michael Whitelaw.
** No Mas Tequila ($2.40) accelerated for a 3 3/4-length win over Rosie Jane in the San Jacinto turf for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. The winner, ridden by Leandro Goncalves, covered the distance in 1:43.64. Karen Jacks trains the daughter of Northern Afleet for James Sills and the Estate of Ronald A. Ellerbee.
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** Ima Discreet Lady ($8.20) fought for a length win over Lady Ave in the Yellow Rose for fillies and mares over six furlongs. The winner covered the distance in 1:11.26. Ry Eikleberry was aboard for trainer Karl Broberg. Ima Discreet Lady is a daughter of Discreet Cat who races for Raymond Todd White and Duane Coker.
** Tolonda ($4) withstood both an objection and an inquiry into the stretch run of the Bara Lass for 3-year-old fillies to remain the one-length winner over a fast-closing Ima Sky Traveler. Tolonda covered six furlongs in 1:12.35. Eikleberry was aboard the daughter of Bind for David Davis and trainer Austin Gustafson.
*Gold Pilot ($8) came rolling through the stretch to catch Algebra on the wire for a neck victory in the Star of Texas The one-mile race was for 4-year-olds and up. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Picknngrinn. Gold Pilot, who closed from last, covered the distance in 1:36.94. Jose Alvarez was aboard the son of My Golden Song for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch and trainer Bret Calhoun.
Sam Houston handled $2,745,544 on its 10-race card from all sources, according to the charts from Equibase.