ONTHROCKS FOUND HIS DISTANCE TO WIN IN THE $54,250 SAM HOUSTON 550 STAKES

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 17, 2023–Onthrocks had something to prove Saturday night. After a driving wire-to-wire finish in the $54,250 Sam Houston 550 Stakes, the four-year-old gelding found his stride and scored his first career stakes win.

Raul Ramirez, Jr strapped in and piloted Onthrocks to a length victory over Viva Le Don and Shockinglyfamous. With an 8 mph head wind, the son of A Revenant clocked a 97 speed index in :27.707 seconds in the 550-yard stakes. The win paid $5.40 on a $2.00 wager. ”I told Rubio after the (440 yard Sam Houston Classic), that this horse wants to go longer. He wasn’t 100% ready last month, but he was today! He’s a pretty talented horse.”

Conditioned by Esteban Rubio, Onthrocks placed third in the Sam Houston Classic [G2] on May 19th and the $32,550 winner’s share of tonight’s purse upped his earnings to $76,087. The Texas-bred gelding has lit the board 9 of 12 starts with four career wins.

Ware Racing and Ranching LLC owns and bred Onthrocks. He is out of Stolabunny by Stoli.

Jockey Jose Vega rode Viva Le Don to a second place finish clocking a 94 speed index. The 8-time stakes winner has 11 career wins with $510,916 in the bank.

Trainer Tammy Johnson bred Viva Le Don in partnership with Jack Manning. Rockin J Running Horsesowns the son of Rock Solid Jess. The seven-year-old gelding is out of Viva Arriba by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. Post-time favorite Shockinglyfamous, ridden by Benito Baca, placed third a neck behind Viva Le Don. The son of One Famous Eagle has 10 career wins and received the honors for Champion Aged Stallion last year. Trained by Kasey Willis, the 6-time stakes winner has $329,731 in career earnings.

Bred by Clarence Scharbauer, III, and owned by Stone Chase Steeples, Shockinglyfamous was a $95,000 repurchase in the 2021 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. Sired by One Famous Eagle, the seven-year-old horse is out of stakes winner Shocktime (TB) by Langfuhr.

Article Courtesy of StallionESearch | Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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About Sam Houston Race Park Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining, and features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre.