GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Sunday, May 7, 2017) – Michael Lund Peterson’s Mor Spirit was much the best winning by 5 ¾ lengths in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park.
Mor Spirit winning $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile, G3 Photo: Dustin Orona
Ridden by Mike Smith, Mor Spirit was hustled to the lead where he set the pace off the rail, drew off under the whip in the final sixteenth and was much the best.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Mor Spirit is a 4-yr-old son of Eskendereya out of the Dixie Union mare Im a Dixie Girl. With the victory, Mor Spirit improved his record to 12-5-5-0 with today’s purse became a millionaire. His total earnings are now $1,008,400.
Mor Spirit was the favorite at .40-1 and returned Mutuels of $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Texas Chrome, ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr., returned $5.00 and $2.80. Iron Fist, ridden by Iram Diego, finished another 1 ¼ lengths in third and returned $2.40. Shotgun Kowboy, American Dubai and F J Uncle Vic completed the order of finish.
Carve, Great Minds and U S Officer were scratched from the race.
Post-Race Quotes Steve Sexton Mile:
Mike Smith (Winning jockey, Mor Spirit) “It means a whole lot just to come here and get the opportunity to see some people I grew up with and win this race, but then to win the inaugural one being named after Steve who is a wonderful, wonderful man, I am very proud.”
“It worked out really well. I was talking to Bob on the phone earlier and Jimmy and they told me to go on and ride him out of there and that way if someone wants the lead they’re going to have to be running to do it. We were blessed to wind up on the lead and he just turned right off and relaxed really well. It was a matter of pointing him in the right direction. They had him ready, I didn’t do much. I’m good at not doing much.”
Note: This was Mike Smith’s first Lone Star Park stakes win. He won the 143rd running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Friday.
Jimmy Barnes (assistant to winning trainer Bob Baffert) “I just to want to thank Steve’s son. He’s the one that called Bob and asked him to bring a special horse for this race and Bob said, “Sure, you got it.”
Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Texas Partners LSP and GG LSP. The track offers a 50-day 2017 Thoroughbred Season, which opens Thursday, April 20 and concludes on Sunday, July 30. Live racing will be held three days a week, Friday at 6:35 p.m., Saturday at 5:00 p.m. (except Triple Crown Days May 6, May 20 & June 10 which have a 1:35 p.m. start) and Sundays at 2:35 p.m. Live racing will be held on select Thursdays at 6:35 p.m. (April 20, June 15 & July 27). The racing program on Memorial Day, May 29, will start at 2:35 p.m. A special twilight program will be held at 5:00 p.m. both on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 (Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration). For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Lone Star Park is also home to the multi-million dollar simulcast racebook, sports bar and event venue, Bar & Book. The 36,000 square foot venue is open to the public 363 days a year.
Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation with a primary business focus of pursuing entertainment, gaming and racing related opportunities in emerging jurisdictions in the United States and overseas as well as acquisition of regional gaming and entertainment assets. GGS LLC is the parent company of GG RP, which owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and GG LSP, which owns a significant stake in Lone Star Park. GG LSP is the track operator who owns the license to operate Lone Star Park and leases the property from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation.
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