Mr Money Bags in strong year-end position

Mr Money Bags wrapped up his 3-year-old season Wednesday by winning the biggest race of his career in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby. He returned to the North Texas farm of trainer Mike Neatherlin on Thanksgiving and on Tuesday will head to his winter base of Sam Houston Race Park.

“It was a pretty good year,” Neatherlin said.

Mr Money Bags won five stakes for breeder and owner Roy Cobb in 2019 and is a front-runner for Texas-bred of the year. The horse registered his first three stakes wins against restricted foes by a combined margin of 30 lengths. His win in the Zia Derby came by a neck, and before that he was a nose winner of the track’s $50,000 Roadrunner.

“He’s been in dog fights the last two races,” Neatherlin said. “I know his heart now.”

Neatherlin said the Texas Champions Day program on March 22 at Sam Houston is an objective for next season. There are sprint and route options on the card. Before then, Neatherlin said races being discussed include the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Cup at 1 1/2 miles on turf and the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint at six furlongs, both Jan. 26 at Sam Houston.

Mr Money Bags is a multiple stakes winner at Sam Houston, which opens its meet Jan. 10.