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BRET CALHOUN RUNNERS WIN BOTH DIVISIONS OF THE TTA SALE FUTURITY |
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GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Sunday, July 17, 2022) — Trainer Bret Calhoun had a banner day at Lone Star Park on Sunday after sending out the filly Free Drop Maddy to win the filly division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity, and also sending the colt Vietnam Victory out to triumph in the colts and gelding division of the $150,000-guaranteed two-year old stakes.
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Vietnam Victory Finish
Photo Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
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The James Stodola-owned Vietnam Victory is a 2021 $30,000 TTA Yearling Sale graduate that was entering into the race coming off a gutsy performance in his maiden debut at Lone Star Park. That maiden race saw the Texas-bred son of Klimt post a length victory at first asking. In the TTA Futurity, six other rivals went postward to contest the 5.5 furlong contest.
With jockey Jose Alvarez aboard, Vietnam Victory confronted the front-running Steve Asmussen trained Bling Bling Bling, as another Asmussen stablemate Village Way was ranging up along the outside to make it three-horse battle across the track. At the top of the stretch, both Vietnam Victory and Village Way darted away from the pace setter to make it a two horse race by mid-stretch. With a half-length advantage at mid-stretch held by Asmussen trained Village Way, Vietnam Victory rallied to grind out the effort to surpass Village Way in deep stretch to regain the lead, and go on to win the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity by a length.
“We are delighted with how this colt ran today in the futurity,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “I am happy to get the win for my owner James Stodola, who is a Vietnam war veteran and named this horse accordingly. This colt really has just checked all of the boxes since we’ve had him, and I am looking forward to seeing just how capable he is moving forward.”
With the victory, Vietnam Victory moved his career earnings to $109,620 from only two career outings.
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Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity - Filly Division
After sending out the winner in the colts and gelding division of the TTA Futurity, Calhoun completed a hefty payday by also sending out Landon Jordan-owned Free Drop Maddy to a decisive victory in the filly division of the $150,000-Guaranteed two-year old stakes.
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Free Drop Maddy Finish
Photo Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
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With Kentucky-based jockey Gabriel Saez making the trip to ride the daughter of Free Drop Billy, Free Drop Maddy crossed every pole in the race as the leader, including the finish line by nearly a two-length margin over long shot Guitar Woman, and third place finisher Cajun Gumbow.
“We’ve been feeling for a while that we were going to be live in this spot with this filly at Lone Star,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “We had a lot of confidence in this filly, and it was great to see her step it up on this big day.”
The Louisiana-bred filly, that brought a winning bid of $10,500 at the 2021 Texas Thoroughbred Yearling sale, breaks her maiden in victory in the Sunday finale to move her career earnings total to $102,700. With Free Drop Maddy beginning as a Louisiana-bred, that fact leaves Calhoun contemplating running her possibly against state-bred company in her next out.
“There are some Louisiana bred two year-old filly races coming up that we could possibly look at,” said Calhoun. “The Shine Young Futurity at Evangeline is possible for us to look at, depending on how she comes out of this effort and gets back to training.”
Lone Star Park concludes the 2022 Thoroughbred meet with its final weekend of racing starting on Thursday July 21st through Sunday July 24th.
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Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie; A major league sports entertainment attraction that features two exciting racing seasons annually. Over 700,000 guests visit our beautiful facility each year, which features a seven-level glass-enclosed Grandstand, highlighted by our 1,200-seat Silks Dining Room and our 48 luxurious Penthouse Suites, all overlooking the newest race track in Texas. Situated next to our Grandstand is the 36,000 square foot world-class Las Vegas-style Racebook and simulcast facility, Bar & Book, which features wagering on horse racing from around the world 7-days a week year-round.
2022 Thoroughbred Racing Season; The heart of our product offering, running 48-days from April 28 through July 24. The Thoroughbred Racing Season runs during Triple Crown season and features an action-packed promotional schedule with lively entertainment and fun for the entire family. The 2022 Fall Meeting of Champions featuring American Quarter Horses, running 31-days from September 16 through December 17 features some of the very best in Quarter Horse racing.
Lone Star Park is located on Beltline Road, just ½ mile north of I-30 in Grand Prairie, Texas. Visit LoneStarPark.com for more information.
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Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie | 1000 Lone Star PKWY, Grand Prairie, TX 75050
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