Newly named Texas-bred of the year Mr Money Bags being pointed to Razorback Handicap

Mr Money Bags is likely headed to Oaklawn Park after running a corker Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park. He dominated the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint, winning off by 6 3/4 lengths and earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

“That was over the top,” said Mike Neatherlin, who trains Mr Money Bags for breeder and owner Roy Cobb.

The next day, the Texas Thoroughbred Association announced Mr Money Bags would be honored as the 2019 Texas-bred of the Year during a March 21 banquet at Sam Houston.

Before the hardware is handed out, Mr Money Bags will likely see action at Oaklawn. Neatherlin said the horse is being pointed for the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap over a mile and a sixteenth Feb. 17. Mr Money Bags will probably ship to Oaklawn within the next week, said Neatherlin.

“I’m just giving him a rest, making sure he comes out of the race good,” Neatherlin said. “I’m going to bring three head. I’ve got an Arkansas-bred and a 3-year-old by Declaration of War.”

Mr Money Bags was winning his sixth stakes race in the Stonerside Sprint. The race was his first at 4 and it came following his victory in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby in November.

“I think this horse is better than he was last year,” Neatherlin said. “I can really see him getting better than he was last year. This horse is getting so good now. The biggest thing is his body is changing. He’s grown so much. He’s probably 150 pounds bigger than he was. He’s just getting like, ‘Wow!’ ”

Mr Money Bags is a son of Silver City who is now 8 for 11 with earnings of $389,070.