Racing


Krash Course Prevails in Blanket Finish of the $55,500 Texas Twister Stakes at Sam Houston
Texas Twister (#10) defeating Card One Starter (#6) and All About The Kiss (#3) in a blanket-finish to the $55,500 Texas Twister Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Coady Photography
Krash Course Prevails in Blanket Finish of the $55,500 Texas Twister Stakes at Sam Houston

By Jennifer Perkins

HOUSTON, TX —MAY 14, 2021— A night of five stakes at Sam Houston concluded with the 110-yard, $55,500 Texas Twister Stakes as Krash Course emerged victorious over Card One Starter and All About the Kiss in a blanket finish.

Krash Course ($22.20) completed the sprint in 7.170 and earned an 81 speed index for trainer Jose Nevarez, Jr. and owner Martha Nevarez. Jockey Abraham Gonzalez-Munoz celebrated his first career win.

"We have owned him since he was a baby, he's done very well for us," Nevarez, Jr. said after the win. "He's very sound and we plan on running him next in the Challenge that was going to run at Retama Park, but now will be held in Houston. We are really excited for this win."

The Texas Twister was Krash Course’s first start of the year and his second attempt at 110-yards. The 6-year-old horse was bred in Texas by Bennie and Terri Jeter, out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Rare Eye Opener.

The winning connections of Krash Course accept the Texas Twister stakes trophy Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park. © Coady Photography

Krash Course earned his second career stakes victory on Friday following a win in the 2019 edition of the King William Stakes at Retama. Krash Course has competed in stakes races in each year of his racing career, including a second-place finish in the TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2) in 2019. He also qualified to the TQHA Sale Futurity (RG2) and the Dash for Cash Derby (G3).

Card One Starter finished a nose behind in second place with Juan Diaz, Jr. aboard for trainer Victor Urieta, Jr. The post-time favorite has won six of his 12 career starts, including the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington in March.

Card One Starter gave the 110-yard distance a try for the first time in his career on Friday night. The 3-year-old son of Docs Best Card is owned by Jose Guzman. Guzman also bred the gelding in Oklahoma, out of Stable Dancer, by Tempting Dash.

Lucas Constantin rode All About the Kiss to a narrow third place finish for trainer Marc Jungers. Jungers also co-owns All About the Kiss with Michelle Jungers and teamed up with R&R Reynolds to breed the 4-year-old filly in Texas. The daughter of Kiss My Hocks is out of All About Tonight, by Carters Cartel.

All About the Kiss made her 2021 debut in the Texas Twister. In 2020, she competed in the Live Oak Stakes and the TQHA 250 Stakes at Retama and the Dash for Speed Stakes at Ruidoso.

Completing the field were Ed O, Pyc Lovestruck, Jess a Boy, Pa Cha Ching, Johnny de Capo and Cartel Jr. There was a dead heat for fifth between Pyc Lovestruck and Jess a Boy and a dead heat for seventh between Pa Cha Ching and Johnny de Capo. Straw Bux was scratched.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.