By Martha Claussen

HOUSTON, TX—MAY 3, 2013—A talented field of fillies and mares competed in tonight’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park, the $27,540 Merial Distaff Texas Challenge.

Sweet Oblivion, a well-bred daughter of Mr Jess Perry continues to show her versatility and commanding running style. Owned and bred by Joe Kirk Fulton, the speedy gray filly set a new 300-yard track record of :15.101 last year at Sam Houston Race Park. She ran second in the Silestone Stakes here on April 8, which set her up nicely for tonight’s stakes victory.

With regular rider, Jose Alvarez aboard, the 4-year-old mare, bobbled coming out of the gate, but rallied gamely for the win, covering 400 yards in :20.204 seconds.

“She kind of scared me, stumbling at the start,” said her trainer, Mike Robbins. “This mare always gives 100% and does not have any quit to her. She does her best running at 350 and 400 yards, and loves this racetrack.”

The Texas-bred is from the Victory Dash mare Daring Difference. She is 5-4-0 rom 11 starts and has earned $53,104.

Bertha Venation, who was last year’s Merial Distaff runner-up, had to settle for second again. The 6-year-old daughter of Corona Caliente is owned by Jose Luis Salazar and trained by Erika Huitron. She has won nine of her 24 starts, including the $42,000 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge last September at Lone Star Park.

Santos Carrizales had the riding assignment aboard the graded stakes winning daughter of Corona Caliente. Corner K Quarter Horses bred Berth Venation in Arkansas from the Texigo Star mare Dash To Glory.

“Unfortunately, she didn’t break the way she usually does,” said Carrizales. “But she was running at the end.”

Baby Wave, a Wave Carver 5-year-old owned-and-bred by Jackie Sessions, was stepping up to stakes competition for the first time after winning a Sam Houston Allowance on March 29. Saddled by Judd Kearl and ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo she earned $2,754 for her effort. The Texas-bred is out of Royal Baby Sister, by Royal Quick Dash.

Sarah Must, Im A Feature Girl, Herein, Rightamountofwrong, Jess Marcy and Viborita completed the field. Feature This Snow was scratched.

Sweet Oblivion was sent off at even odds and returned $4.20 for the win. She will represent Texas in the $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos on November 9.

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Champion Energy Services Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.