Silent Pleasure beats Bob and John by a neck

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Silent Pleasure won his fourth consecutive stakes on Saturday, edging 4-5 favorite Bob and John by a determined neck in the Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park. Dreamsandvisions closed for third, finishing eight lengths behind Bob and John.

The Texas Mile was the richest of four stakes on the card, all designed to serve as preps for the Lone Star Million Day card of stakes here May 28. The centerpiece of that program is the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, which is the next goal for Silent Pleasure, said his co-owner and trainer, Howard Scarberry.

Silent Pleasure ($5.80) broke well in the Texas Mile, and moved to the lead through an opening quarter in 23.02 seconds. He was joined on the front end by Wait in Line and Stockholder, and the three raced together through a half-mile in 45.76 seconds.

Silent Pleasure continued to maintain his advantage through six furlongs in 1:10.22, then came back along the inside when he lost the lead briefly to Bob and John at the top of the stretch. The two then battled to the wire, with Silent Pleasure covering the distance in 1:35.39.

"He's a fighter," said Tracy Hebert, who rode Silent Pleasure. "He's just a plum fighter."

Silent Pleasure'sentered the race off victories in the $73,000 Delta Mile, the $97,000 Gulf Coast Classic - both at Delta Downs in March - and the $100,000 Fifth Season at Oaklawn Park.

Bob and John, the winner of last year's Grade 1 Wood Memorial, was making his first start since September. He raced about four lengths behind the front-runners early in the Texas Mile.

"You have to give a lot of credit to the winner," said Bob Baffert, who trains Bob and John. "I was disappointed in the outcome, but got beat by a nice horse. Bob and John ran well off the layoff. It was my Lone Star curse with Real Quiet revisted."

Baffert sent out favorite Real Quiet to finish second by a neck in the 1999 running of the Texas Mile. Littlebitlively, who won that race, is a half-brother to Silent Pleasures dam, Wholelotapleasure. Silent Pleasure is by Real Quiet.

Silent Pleasure, whom Scarberry and his wife, Penny, acquired in a horse swap a few years ago, earned $185,000. The victory pushed his earnigns to $396,555. Overall, he has won six races from 15 career starts.

In other stakes:

* Beta Capo ($19.20) led throughout to win his turf debut by a length and a quarter in the $60,000 Grand Prairie Turf Challenge for 3-year-olds. Luis Quinonez rode the winner for trainer Steve Asmussen.

* Wrenice ($4.20) rallied from off the pace to win the $50,000 Richland Hills Farm for 3-year-old fillies by two lengths over Richwoman. Bobby Walker Jr. was aboard the winner for trainer Randy Mayfield.

* Carolina Sky ($5.20) came back for a neck win over My Three Sisters in the $60,000 Irving Distaff. Victor Espinoza rode the winner for trainer Morris Nicks.