GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – Third time was the charm on Sunday for owner/trainer/breeder C. R. Trout’s Shotgun Kowboy after the classy gelding was finally able to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap after coming up just short in each of the last two runnings.
Breaking well from post 3 under Luis Quinonez, Shotgun Kowboy dueled the heavy 1-5 favorite Mubtaahij down the front stretch for the first time before taking command heading into the first turn. Mubtaahij soon settled to a close stalking position along the inside while Shotgun Kowboy and South Beach raced within a length of each other through splits of :24.29, :47.63, and 1:11.66. Hitting the top of the stretch, Shotgun Kowboy’s strong turn of foot removed any chance Mubtaahij had of closing, and he hit the wire by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:44.84 for the 1 1/16-mile main track event.
Mubtaahij was 2 1/2 lengths past Fear the Cowboy, while South Beach faded in the stretch to complete the order of finish. Full of Luck was scratched after choosing to run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, where he finished sixth.
Shotgun Kowboy’s win improved his record to 29-12-5-4 with career earnings of $1,246,326. The 6-year-old gelded son of Kodiak Kowboy was third in 2017 and second in 2016.
Shotgun Kowboy returned $11.20 to win and $3 to place, while Mubtaahij paid $2.10 to place. There was no show betting.
