Perfect Shot Upsets Houston Ladies Classic for Asmussen

At this point, it should not be a surprise to see Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in the winner's circle of the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3), yet Perfect Shot still managed to pay $24 when she upset a field that included dual grade 1 winner La Cara at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 24. The Whisper Hill Farm mare gave Asmussen his seventh victory in the race over the past eight years—including the last five in a row. "Sam Houston Race Park is the best dirt surface in the country," North America's all-time winningest trainer said as to what has led to that success. Of course, this year's Houston Ladies Classic was a bit extra special as the 5-year-old Gun Runner mare was ridden by Asmussen's son, Erik. Erik found himself at the tail end of the seven-horse field in the early stages as Standoutsensation set fractions of :23.77, :48.03, and 1:12.64 on the muddy track with La Cara keeping her company. Those two looked like they'd decide it in the stretch until La Cara came up empty with a furlong remaining in her first start since September, fading to finish fifth. That was when Perfect Shot was getting into gear, and she rallied to nail Standoutsensation by a half-length while completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.09. Yes It Tiz was third. "I just wanted to get her in a good rhythm," Erik said. "On the backside, she was carrying me so beautifully. I knew I had a good chance she would run her race today. She ran huge; she was awesome." Perfect Shot had rallied off two victories over the summer against allowance foes but had been well beaten, once by Standoutsensation, in her past two starts. Steve Asmussen credited the victory to the circumstance of getting her to Sam Houston as she was on the improve. "She's done extremely well since she came here with (assistant trainer) Pablo (Ocampo) and the crew," he said. "She's a Gun Runner getting better with time, and she saved her best race for today." Bred by Sierra Farm out of the Bodemeister mare Meister Legend, Perfect Shot was purchased by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $285,000 at the 2022 The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale. Both Asmussens were thankful for Pope giving them the opportunity. "Very (thankful) to Mandy Pope and Todd Quast for giving us an opportunity with this filly," Steve said. "It's great to see her be a graded stakes winner." "Mandy Pope has always been so nice to me growing up, so to win a graded stakes race on a horse of hers is truly special," Erik said. Anegada, Aces Honor Take Stakes on Yielding Turf If there's been any other certainty on the Houston Racing Festival card in recent years, it's been trainer Mike Maker winning the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes, which he did for the 10th time Saturday with Three Diamonds Farm's Anegada. Jockey Rafael Hernandez found a perfect spot along the rail and punched through late to run down pacesetting Presider by a length, completing 1 1/2 miles in 2:34.10 on a yielding course and paying $18.40. Multiple graded stakes winner Truly Quality was third. "He was handling the track really good even though it was soft," Hernandez said. "I was surprised how well the horse handled (the wet course), so I had that advantage, too." That wet course was almost bad news at the end of the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile Stakes as front-running Aces Honor got leg weary, but held on for a head victory with jockey Lane Luzzi over the filly, Bohemian. He became the first stakes winner for his late sire, Code of Honor. "I thought the heavy course would start weighing on him, it was just a matter of when," trainer Ethan West said. The Pocket Aces Racing 3-year-old is one of 10 horses that Kentucky-based West moved down to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the winter to be able to run on the turf, and he is now a stakes winner one start after breaking his maiden with a bright future ahead. "We always were really fond of him, he always showed a little bit of talent," West said. "It was always the mental aspect of racing that we thought would take a few races to get."