SAM HOUSTON

Bravura ready to move forward in Spirit of Texas

Bravura will be shaking a notable rival Monday when he returns to the Texas-bred ranks for the $50,000 Spirit of Texas at Sam Houston. The six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up is one of two stakes on the penultimate card of the meet. The $50,000 Groovy is for 3-year-olds bred in Texas.

Bravura hooked Union Jackson last out in the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Cup on Feb. 11 and finished a distant second, beaten 8 1/4 lengths. The start was Bravura’s first of the year and his intended steppingstone to the Spirit of Texas.

“We were very happy with him,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Bravura for Victoria Ashford. “That [Union Jackson] is a nice horse. We were looking for a race to prep – he’s a hard horse to find races for – and he ran very well. I think he’ll move forward in this spot.”

Bravura was an accomplished Texas-bred last year at 3, winning two stakes at Sam Houston to earn the title of horse of the meet. He has worked back once since his comeback race, going a halfmile in 48.40 seconds March 3 at Sam Houston. Deshawn Parker has the mount from post 5.

Calhoun also will send out Supermason, who will be cutting back to one turn after setting a quick pace and finishing sixth last out in the $70,000 Fremont on Jan. 21 at Delta Downs.

“He went way too fast on that track,” Calhoun said, referring to the laboring, sand-based surface at Delta.

Supermason is a stakes winner at two turns and could have gone in the $50,000 Star of Texas at a mile Tuesday at Sam Houston, but the decision to cut back to one turn was made with a look to the future, said Calhoun.

“We went back and forth and ended up in the sprint,” Calhoun said. “At the end of the day, we want to come back in the Premiere going 6 1/2 [furlongs], so we thought we would keep him short.”

The Premiere is the opening-night feature at Lone Star Park on April 20. The race is restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Texas. Supermason won the race last year, rolling by 7 3/4 lengths and earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

Lindey Wade has the mount on Supermason from post 6.

◗ Rumpole could go favored in the Groovy after he dominated last month’s Jim’s Orbit against some of the same rivals he faces Monday. David Cabrera has the mount for Fletcher Properties and trainer Bob Young.