Texas Ryano wins first stakes in King Pellinore

ARCADIA, Calif. – On Sunday morning, jockey James Graham and trainer Carla Gaines sat down in Gaines’s stable office on the backstretch at Santa Anita for a strategy session in advance of Texas Ryano’s appearance in the $76,000 King Pellinore Stakes.

For Graham, the minor turf stakes would be his first time to ride the 4-year-old colt, whose last rider, Flavien Prat, currently is sidelined with a back injury. Gaines and Graham reviewed video and discussed Texas Ryano’s tendencies.

On Sunday afternoon, Graham put his knowledge to work. Texas Ryano rallied from the back of the field to win the first stakes of his career. For Graham, the King Pellinore was his first career stakes win at Santa Anita.

“James figured the horse out,” Gaines said.

Texas Ryano, the second choice in a field of nine, paid $7.60 and ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:01.73. He closed from eighth to win by 1 3/4 lengths over the 11-1 Class Leader, who finished a neck in front of Abbey Vale.

Kulik Lodge, the 5-2 favorite, was well placed throughout and finished fourth, 2 1/4 lengths behind Texas Ryano. Southern Freedom finished fifth, followed by Danas Best, Baccelo, Quick Casablanca, and Crucero.

Graham had Texas Ryano toward the back of the field for the first six furlongs. He urged his mount toward the lead with a wide rally in the stretch, taking over in the final sixteenth.

Texas Ryano races for owner-breeder Warren Williamson. By Curlin, Texas Ryano has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $193,330.

Gaines said the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles on turf Nov. 26 at Del Mar is a possible goal for Texas Ryano.