Texas Chrome looks formidable in Governor’s Cup
Texas Chrome’s approach to the $55,000 Governor’s Cup for 2-year-olds on Monday at Zia Park will be a simple one.
“Hopefully, he settles in and makes a good kick down the lane,” said Shea Stuart, who trains Texas Chrome for Danny Keene.
Texas Chrome has used a serious late run to win three of four career starts, among his wins the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park and the $111,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park. He will be a strong favorite to take down his third stakes win in the Governor’s Cup. The six-furlong race drew seven colts and geldings, and it will share a card with its counterpart for fillies, the $55,000 Permian Basin.
Governor’s Cup, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Texas Chrome (Last 3 Beyers: 80-79-64)
◗ Texas Chrome closed from next to last to win the TTA Sales Futurity by 2 1/4 lengths and could get a similar trip in the Governor’s Cup.
“I think there’s plenty of speed in there,” Stuart said. “I imagine he could be six, seven lengths off of it.”
◗ Texas Chrome enters the Governor’s Cup following a third-place finish in the $75,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes on Sept. 12 at Retama Park. The six-furlong race went in a quick 1:10.40.
“He broke better than he normally does, and he was a lot closer than he had been,” said Stuart, noting that the winner, He’s Comin in Hot, captured the Grade 3 Bashford Manor this summer at Churchill Downs.
◗ Deshawn Parker has the mount from post 5.
Concord Fast (Last 2 Beyers: 55-44)
◗ He will add blinkers after just missing in the $55,000 Manzano on Sept. 25 at Albuquerque. He finished second in the race, in which he was favored following a sharp debut win at SunRay Park.
◗ Trainer Justin Evans is winning at a 35 percent clip at this meet.
Permian Basin, Race 10
KEY CONTENDERS
Fleet Grey (Last 3 Beyers: 45-66-63)
◗ A debut winner at Churchill Downs, she hit a high note in July when she won the $93,000 fillies division of the TTA Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park.
◗ Fleet Grey has made one start since and finished fourth after dueling in the $75,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park. The race on Sept. 12 was the first start in two months for Fleet Grey.
◗ Remington Park-based jockey Angel Cruz has the mount for Clark Brewster and trainer Steve Asmussen.
Blaze to Glory (Last 3 Beyers: 42-50-51)
◗ She made her stakes debut last out and was third in the $165,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity on July 25 at Ruidoso Downs.