Albano Stars in the Maxxam Gold Cup

Before the running of the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup, I mentioned to anyone that would listen that I believe Albano is still a horse with Grade 1 potential. It occurred to me that I could look pretty silly a few minutes later if the 4-year-old son of Istan did not run up my expectations in the featured event of a three stakes race evening at Sam Houston Race Park. As it turned out, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Albano dominated the Gold Cup early and often on the way to a romping 6 ½-length victory, highlighting a big night for trainer Larry Jones.

Jones has made a habit in bringing in top horses to the Houston area oval in recent years, and in Albano, he proved to have the class of the race. Sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite in the field of six, Albano was sent right to the lead by regular rider Kerwin Clark. Second betting choice C J’s Awesome briefly looked like he might pressure the favorite heading into the first turn, but opted to sit in second and stalk. Albano was thus allowed to cruise down the backstretch setting moderate early fractions of :24.61 and a half-mile in :50.41.

Longshot, Endurance made a move on the far turn to tighten things up a bit, but as the field came spinning into the homestretch, it was evident that Clark had a handful of horse in Albano. Sure enough, the Brereton Jones homebred quickly strode clear, and continued to pour it on down the length of the stretch, completing the mile and one-eighth distance of the Maxxam Gold Cup in 1.52.24, on a track yielding slow times all evening. Endurance finished three-quarters of a length ahead of C J’s Awesome for second place money.

“I knew they were in trouble after the first quarter mile,” said Clark. “I’ve always liked this colt. He was my ‘in’ to Larry Jones’ barn last year, so he will always have a special place in my heart. Larry had him ready to go and, what can I say? It’s just a privilege and a pleasure to be riding for these guys.”

With the victory, Albano raised his career record to an excellent 11-4-3-3, with his only out of the money finish coming when placed 4th in last year’s Louisiana Derby after a very tough trip. Albano also raised his lifetime earnings over the $600,000 mark.

Larry Jones mentioned the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Louisiana Derby Day as the likely next start for Albano. As for his race at Sam Houston, winning trainer was clearly pleased with his star pupil’s performance after the race.

“He ran very well tonight, but it just showed what a poor training job I did on his last race [a 3rd place finish in the Louisiana Handicap in Albano’s first race after a 4 ½ month layoff],” said Jones. “It’s great to see him at the top of his game. I owe Governor Jones a lot of credit. He doesn’t put the pressure on me. He tells me that when the horses are right, let’s run them.”

 Jack Coady/Coady Photography

One race earlier on the card, Jones also found himself in the winner’s circle with A Day in Paradise in the Texas Heritage Stakes. Since breaking his maiden at Keeneland in October, the gelded, New York-bred son of Yes It's True had run into some tough hombres. including War Story when 2nd in his latest. The race favorite found the competition more to his liking in the one-mile event for 3-year-olds Saturday evening at Sam Houston.

Also ridden by Kerwin Clark, A Day in Paradise made all the running, and had plenty left down the lane to hold of the previously undefeated Steve Asmussen trainee Academy Bay by an easy 3 ¼ lengths. Final time for the flat mile was 1.40.38, as the Tommy Ligon owned youngster raised his lifetime record to 5-2-1-1, while collecting his first stakes victory. According to the winning rider, there still should be plenty room for improvement for the strapping bay.

“He didn’t even know what he was doing,” said Clark of his mount. “He never really puts his mind to running; he just thinks he is out there for fun and games. In all honesty, this horse has not even figured it out yet, but it’s going to be fun when he figures out he is a racehorse.”

Georgia resident Ligon confirmed that A Day in Paradise will be pointed to the Grade 1 Louisiana Derby next. It would represent a big step up in class, but the gelding has the potential to join other Texas Heritage winners, Kip Deville and Departing, to go on to bigger and better things.

 Jack Coady/Coady Photography

The first of three stakes on the evening featured a full field of turf mares in the $50,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes, and it was the ubiquitous team Ken and Sarah Ramsey taking home the trophy with Kitten’s Queen.

Sent off as the 3-2 favorite in the field of ten, the 5-year-old daughter of Kitten's Joy would not disappoint her backers. A Kentucky homebred, Kitten’s Queen sat a comfortable stalking position behind the early leader One Time Only, before making her move. She took command at the head of the stretch, and powered down the Sam Houston turf course to a two-length victory under rider David Cabrera. Satin Gold held off the late running Compelling Case for second place money.

Kitten’s Queen’s victory provided trainer Mike Maker his fourth stakes victory at Sam Houston in 2015.

I’ll have more about my first ever visit to Sam Houston Race Park, and the personal significance it had to me, coming tomorrow on these pages.