Retama: Gold Storm all the way

Gold Storm led throughout for a neck win over High Strike Zone in the $40,000 J.R. Straus Memorial Stakes on Friday night at Retama Park near San Antonio. The six-furlong race was the opening-night feature at the track.

Gold Storm ($4.80) broke sharply in the Straus and ran the opening quarter in 22.63 seconds. He fended off challengers on the turn, was two lengths clear of his rivals in the stretch, then dug in to hold off a late bid from High Strike Zone.

Gold Storm covered the distance in 1:10.20. Larry Taylor rode the winner for trainer Bubba Cascio.

The victory was Gold Storm's sixth in 10 starts for owners Jack Sweesy and Keith McKinney.

Attendance for the Retama opener was 11,967, and handle on the nine-race card was $983,891.