Trainer, second six times, finally has winner in Texas Classic Futurity

Dulce Sin Tacha edged 4-5 favorite Instygator by a nose to win the Grade 1, $1,031,211 Texas Classic Futurity for Quarter Horses on Saturday night at Lone Star Park – giving trainer Heath Taylor his first victory in a race in which he’d finished second six times.

The Texas Classic Futurity closed out the meet and also served as the richest race in Texas. It was supported by four other stakes, including the Grade 1, $393,210 Texas Classic Derby won by a half-length by Perrys Double Down ($19.20).

Dulce Sin Tacha ($14.20) raced midpack before going on to cover 400 yards on a sloppy, sealed track in 19.62 seconds. Rodrigo Vallejo was aboard the son of Jess Good Candy for the horse’s breeders, Bob and Jerry Ann Gaston.

Watch Him Be Famous and Jess On the Run finished in a dead heat for third.

Dulce Sin Tacha earned $458,889 for the win, which was his fifth from six career starts. He came into the race off a 1 1/2-length trial win Nov. 8 at Lone Star. Dulce Sin Tacha won his first stakes race Saturday.

Instygator was the fastest qualifier for the Texas Classic Futurity and the race favorite on the strength of his runner-up finish in the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

Taylor, a past winner of the All American, long had been chasing the Texas Classic Futurity. One year, he qualified six horses for the race. He said last week that winning was a “bucket list” item.

Racing returns to Lone Star in April, when the track puts on a meet for Thoroughbreds.