Two Texas Thoroughbred Association $150,000 futurities highlight Lone Star Park’s July 13 Stars of Texas Day
Five stakes on tap as thoroughbred racing wraps up Sunday
By Martha Claussen
GRAND PRAIRIE, Tx. –Trainer Bret Calhoun is hopeful that Mansfield Racing’s Too Much Kiki will begin another win streak as she makes her 10th lifetime start in the $75,000 Valor Farm Stakes. The six-furlong race drew eight Accredited Texas-Bred fillies and mares.
The daughter of Too Much Bling out of the Action This Day mare Soft Music was bred by Danele Durham and was the sales topper at the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale. She began 2024 with three stakes wins in Houston, beginning with the Darby’s Daughter on January 6. Her last win was in the Two Altazano five months ago at Sam Houston Race Park, but she has hit the board in her three stakes appearances at Lone Star.
“She has cost herself additional wins by giving others the edge,” Calhoun said. “She has never done too much in the mornings, so we began training her in blinkers. In Houston, she responded really well to (jockey) Fernando Jara. He will have the call on Saturday.”
Calhoun will also saddle Successful Path, who ran third in the Darby’s Daughter for owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. She was a five-length debut winner here on opening night. The filly by Mr. Speaker is owned by Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing LLC.
Kevin Peek’s homebred Peek Factor won the $75,000 Yellow Rose on Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston and exits a third-place finish in the $81,000 Bluebonnet on April 18 at Lone Star Park. The 6-year-old daughter of Too Much Bling will be ridden by Luis Quinonez.
Martha Claussen (shown in photo with Stewart Elliott) has been involved in the racing industry since 1997. She served as publicity director for Sam Houston Race Park for 10 years and continues to be active in writing, fan education and racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana, Indiana and other regions in North America.
