Onlynurimagination heads Texas Stallion off second-place effort

Onlynurimagination, second as a 48-1 longshot last out, in the $50,000 Groovy, should be favored Saturday night in the colts and geldings division of the $56,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston.

Two races earlier, Mightbeachamp will attempt to recapture her best form in the $53,000 fillies division.

The 6 1/2-furlong races are restricted to 2-year-olds by stallions nominated to the series.

Onlynurimagination, who heads a field of eight, appears to be working his way into the winner's circle.

In his last start he rallied from off-the-pace to finish second, beaten 6 3/4 lengths by Balkan, in the Groovy at Sam Houston on Dec. 1. One race earlier, he finished third to the well-regarded Front Nine in the $73,000 Friendship Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Nov. 10.

Onlynurimagination, the field's highest money earner and owner of its highest last-race Beyer Speed Figure, is trained by Ed Dodwell and will be ridden by Glen Murphy.

Cindy Noll has the mount on Gone Off, a front-runner who could be the biggest threat to Onlynurimagination. In his last start, which was his first after a six-week layoff, the colt faded to sixth in the Groovy. Trained by Mike Natal, Gone Off receives Lasix for the first time on Saturday.

Another to watch is Noodles, who has won his last two starts by a combined nine lengths, his most recent win coming in allowance company at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

In the 6 1/2-furlong fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes, Mightbeachamp is well-spotted to rebound from a pair of off-the-board finishes in her last two starts. She is the lone winner in the seven-horse field, and also has kept better company than her rivals. Her best race came when she finished second, beaten a length, in the $100,000 La Senorita at Retama Park on Sept. 1.

Jim Hudson, who owns and trains Mightbeachamp, has given the mount to Murphy.

Saucy Viva looks like the top threat to Mightbeachamp. She returns to racing around one turn, after tiring to fourth last out in a one-mile statebred maiden race Nov. 30. Before that start, Saucy Viva ran a competitive second against open maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs Nov. 10.

Trainer Preston Adams has given the mount to Deirdre Panas.

for Sam Houston entries.

Subscribers: to purchase past performances for Sam Houston.

Non-subscribers: to purchase past performances for Sam Houston.