SELMA, TX—JULY 1, 2016—Coming off almost a year layoff, Julio Ramirez' Bar Struck dueled to head win over If I Were Famous in the $15,000 Tower of the Americas Handicap Friday night at Retama Park. Corona La Jolla finished third—1˝-length off the leaders.

Ridden by jockey Juan Garcia, Jr., Bar Struck completed the 550 yards in :27.779 seconds, a 94-speed index into a 13 mph headwind. The $9,450 winner's purse boosted the multiple stakes winner's earnings total to $90,593.

Adrian Huitron conditions the 8-year-old horse by Corona For Me from the Strawfly Special mare Miss Manolo. Bred in Texas by Joe Kirk Fulton, Bar Struck has compiled a (31) 8-5-4 record.

Runner-up If I Were Famous is stakes winning homebred owned by Dawn Ivey and trained by Esteban Rubio. Gaspar Garcia rode the One Famous Eagle 6-year-old out of Runnin Oner Mind, by Ronas Ryon. The $2,550 second place check boosted the sorrel geldings earning to more than $61,000.

Kle Mushinski saddled third place finisher Corona La Jolla for owner/breeder Donna Mushinski. Luis Vivanco was aboard the Tinys First Corona gelding out of Mary La Jolla, by Streakin La Jolla. A multiple stakes winner, Corona La Jolla earned $1,500 for the effort.

Sophies Special, Sol Mecheemupjess and The Field Cricket completed the field. Jet Eye was scratched.