Union Jackson makes Sam Houston Sprint first stakes win

Union Jackson became a stakes winner Saturday night when he motored home by 8 1/4 lengths over Bravura in the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup. The race was one of two stakes on the Sam Houston Race Park card, and Union Jackson completed a sweep for his trainer, Steve Asmussen, and his rider, Iram Diego, who also teamed to win the $50,000 Houston Turf Stakes with Magna Breeze.

Union Jackson had made two stakes starts leading up to the Sam Houston Sprint Cup, placing in both. He held his position from the rail in Saturday night’s six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up, attending an opening quarter of 21.78 seconds before taking over after a half-mile in 44.16. Union Jackson increased his advantage through the stretch while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:09.21.

Union Jackson ($2.60) is a son of Curlin and the Grade 1-winning mare Hot Dixie Chick; he races for Stonestreet Stables. Union Jackson has now won five of nine starts and $208,294.

Magna Breeze ($6.20) set a controlled pace in the Houston Turf, getting away with six furlongs in 1:15 before going on to cover the 1 1/16 miles for Texas-breds on firm ground in 1:45.27. He won by three lengths over Sing It Up.

Magna Breeze is a son of Magna Graduate and he races for Asmussen.