Royal Prince wins Bayou City, Raven's Cry takes Miss Houston Turf

Trainer Brad Cox closed out a big Saturday with a stakes double on the closing night card at Sam Houston Race Park, where Royal Prince captured the $75,000 Bayou City and Raven’s Cry accounted for the $75,000 Miss Houston Turf.

Earlier in the day, Cox saddled champion Essential Quality to a victory in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland.

The Bayou City and Miss Houston Turf were two of three stakes on the card at Sam Houston. Sky Ride romped by eight lengths in the $75,000 Bucharest.

Royal Prince ($2.80) stalked the pace set by I’m Money, who took the field through six furlongs in 1:13.07 in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. Royal Prince advanced, and in the stretch moved past new leader Holy Vow for a three-quarter-length win. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Drivehappy.

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Royal Prince, who is a half-brother to champion British Idiom, was winning his second consecutive stakes race behind the Black Gold at Fair Grounds. He is a son of Cairo Prince and covered the distance on firm turf in 1:43.88. Diego Saenz was aboard for Steve Landers Racing.

Raven’s Cry ($5) was an also-eligible for the Miss Houston Turf, but ultimately drew into the body of the race. She stalked the pace in the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares, moved to the lead through six furlongs in 1:11.48, and went on to cover the distance on firm ground in 1:36.09.

Saenz was aboard for Martin Schwartz. Raven’s Cry is a daughter of Raven’s Pass. She won by a half-length over Valentines Day, while it was another half-length back in third to Brandons Babe.

Sky Ride ($2.40) delivered as the 1-5 favorite in the Bucharest, winning by eight lengths over Good Scout. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Gold Street.

Sky Ride dueled through fractions of 22.76 for the opening quarter and 45.72 for the half-mile before going on to cover the seven-eighths on a fast track in 1:24.28.

Leandro Goncalves was aboard for Triple V Racing and trainer J.R. Caldwell.

Nitrous was scratched from the Bucharest.

Sky Ride is a son of Candy Ride. He came into the Bucharest off a dead-heat win in the Stonerside Sprint at Sam Houston.

The Thoroughbred circuit in Texas moves to Lone Star Park for a meet that opens April 22. Sam Houston's upcoming meet is for Quarter Horses.