Into Celebrating Goes Gate-To-Wire In G.C.F.A. All Breeds 870 Stakes

Into Celebrating turned in a front-running performance Saturday to capture the $34,500 G.C.F.A. All Breeds 870 Stakes at Gillespie County Fair.

Ridden by Francisco Giles, Into Celebrating broke sharply from the inside and maintained command throughout the 870-yard event, holding Snow Bound at bay to score by one length. The 4-year-old colt stopped the clock in :45.793, earning a 97 speed index.

Jose Garcia trains Into Celebrating for Ruse Ranch LLC. Bred in Oklahoma by Larry Morehead and Xcel Farms, the $87,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate is sired by Thoroughbred standout Into Mischief and out of the Corona Cartel mare Celebratori.

The victory improved Into Celebrating's record to 12-2-1-1. The $20,700 winner's share of the purse boosted his career earnings to $32,689.

Snow Bound finished second under J.R. Ramirez Jr. for owner Zach Stevenson and trainer Joseph Manucy. The colt dueled with the eventual winner before settling for second, one length back in :45.966. Bred by Bill Hoburg, the 4-year-old sold for $245,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale before later bringing $43,000 at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. He is sired by Favorite Cartel and out of the Apollo TB mare Apollo Snowbound. Snow Bound now has a record of 22-4-5-1 with earnings of $88,638. Still in search of his first stakes victory, he previously finished second in the Virgil Bond Stakes.

Music Dash rallied strongly to finish third under Paulina Ramirez for owner and trainer Fernando Velazquez. He finished a neck behind Snow Bound in :45.998. Bred by Gentry Farms, the 8-year-old gelding is a $2,200 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate sired by Maclean's Music TB and out of the A Regal Choice mare Dasha Easy. He now has a record of 34-3-3-7 with earnings of $102,161. Earlier this season, Music Dash finished fourth in the Sam Houston Distance Challenge (G3).

Cloned Speed, Thrill And Fury, Hondo Hocks, Perrys Last Trick and Dazzlin Drama completed the order of finish.

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.