Shotgun Kowboy tops Mubtaahij in Lone Star Park Handicap

By Jonathan Lintner
Photo: Remington Park/Dustin Orona Photo

Million-dollar earner Shotgun Kowboy added to his bankroll Sunday evening with a front-running upset of West Coast shipper Mubtaahij in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.

The 6-year-old son of Kodiak Kowboy broke on top, felt little pressure throughout and kept right on cruising when his closest pursuers leveled out in the stretch.

He hit the wire in a final time of 1:44.84 for 1 1/16 miles under jockey Luis Quinonez.

"That was the plan -- get him to break good, see what they're doing, and the main thing was get him comfortable," Quinonez said.

Bred, owned and trained by C. R. Trout, Shotgun Kowboy won his second graded stakes overall and first since the 2015 Oklahoma Derby run in his home state. The gelding now sports a 12-5-4 record in 29 starts.

"This colt is easy to train, and we just kind of let him do his deal today -- to be where he wanted to be -- and I'm thankful I've got Luis riding him," Trout said.

The race day scratch of Full of Luck trimmed the field to just four starters, with Mubtaahij off as a heavy, 2-5 favorite. To add, his trainer, Bob Baffert, and another Hall of Famer, Mike Smith, teamed to win this same race a year ago with Danzing Candy.

There was no repeat, as Smith angled Mubtaahij off the rail entering the stretch, but he failed to close, finishing second with Fear The Cowboy third. South Beach, the longest shot in the field, was fourth.

Shotgun Kowboy set easy enough fractions on the front end, going the opening half mile in 24.49 seconds before the half 47.63, to have something left late.

"I think I got in a good part of the track," said Quinonez, who was down on the inside, where he said horses had run well all day at Lone Star. "...I was able to do what I wanted to and control the race."

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