HOUSTON, TX—MAY 14, 2021—Masons Jet Black, a 4-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Jet Black Patriot, got his first career stakes win in the $54,000 Governors' Cup Marathon Stakes Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

Just three months after having a baby, jockey Paulina Ramirez set the pace with Masons Jet Black off the inside rail then held sway to defeat Holy Storm by half-a-length. The sorrel gelding was clocked in :46.594 seconds into a 5 mph headwind. The win was worth $32,400.

"This is home to us and I couldn't be prouder to be back " said Ramirez after the ride. "I had a baby three and a half months ago. My husband works for Trey and this is the last horse I was riding when I told everyone I was pregnant!"

Trainer Trey Ellis saddled Masons Jet Black to his fourth career win for his wife, owner Courtney Dugas Ellis. Bred in Louisiana, from the Eugen's Third Stop (TB) mare Ruston Kitty (TB), Masons Jet Black was named after Elllis' son Mason.

"This is a whole family deal," said Ellis. "Paulina has been with us from the start; she helped us break him as a baby. We'll go back to Delta for a stakes and just pick and choose from there."

Masons Jet Black has compiled a (14) 4-3-2 record and banked $76,333. At Evangeline Downs last November he was a close second in the $30,000 Races and Aces 870 yard stakes.

Runner-up Holy Storm races for owner-breeder Danley Kjorsvik and is conditioned by Patrick Swan. Victory Urieta, Jr. rode the 5-year-old Red Storm Cat gelding from the Polished Brass (TB) mare White Socks (TB). The graded-placed gelding earned $10,800 for the effort to increase his earning to $125,208.

Post time favorite, Favorite Kool Cartel chased throughout and was three wide on the turn under jockey Ricard Garza-Cruise. The son of leading sire Favorite Cartel got up for third to earn $5,940. Conditioned by trainer Rolando Almanza, the Oklahoma-bred 5-year-old brought five race win streak into the Governors Marathon.

Enrique Ibarra owns the brown gelding out of Rustys Kool Lady by First N Kool.. Bred by Stuart and Strebig, Favorite Kool Cartel has earned nearly $103,000.

Completing the Marathon field were Freakin Patriot Dash, Love Ta Zoom, Silver City Lights and Let There Be Sound.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the race track and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit shrp.com.