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Papaw Bodie captures stakes bow in Connally Turf Cup

Papaw Bodie made a winning stakes debut in the Connally Turf Cup (Jack Coady/Coady Photography) There were probably as many fans thrilled to get their first look at top female jockey Rosie Napravnik as the horses running in the Grade 3, $200,000 John. B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston Race Park Saturday night. The talented jockey, who is the leading rider at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, jetted over to Houston to ride Papaw Bodie in the richest race of the 2012 Thoroughbred meet at the Texas venue. Papaw Bodie, entering the 1 1/8-mile contest off three consecutive wins, settled three-wide on the backstretch as longshot And Music Came went out to the early lead and set fractions of :24 4/5 and :49. Napravnik guided the gelded son of Strong Hope to an opening on the rail at the top of the stretch and the dark bay responded gamely, surging to the lead and holding off a late run from Proceed Bee by 1 3/4 lengths. This was the first time Napravnik had ridden at Sam Houston, and she was impressed with her horse and the Connally turf course.

"It's a lovely turf course; just about as good as a golf course," said Napravnik, who graciously signed autographs for her enthusiastic fan base. "Papaw Bodie was great to ride. I had never ridden him, but he was pretty straight forward on his form. I'm very thankful for the connections in having me on him today."

Papaw Bodie paid $4.60, $2.40 and $2.60 for stopping the clock in 1:49 4/5 as the 6-5 favorite on the firm turf. Little Wagon followed Proceed Bee by a half-length in third, with Ioya Bigtime, And Music Came, Col. Wright and Dakota Gypsy completing the order of finish.

Joe Sharpe saddled Papaw Bodie for trainer Mike Maker, who claimed the five-year-old two starts back for Connie M. Apostelos, and talked about the horse's transition from Gulfstream Park.

"He was coming off a mile and three-eighths and Mike does a good job of keeping him tuned up," Sharpe said. "He had a solid week a work ago at Fair Grounds. This is a horse that keeps himself pretty fit. Rosie rode a beautiful race."

Connie M. Apostelos is from Springboro, Ohio, but made the trip to Texas in time to pick up her first graded win as an owner.

"This is a dream come true," Apostelos said. "I got into this business a couple of years ago by way of my friend, Jeff Colombro. I have just become addicted to it! To get a graded stake so early in three years is wonderful. I am so grateful to Mike and Rosie."

The race was run in ideal racing weather, 52 degrees with no wind.

"I love the weather down here and would love to live in a place like this all year round," she added.

Papaw Bodie was also earning his first graded win while making his stakes debut in this spot. The gelding was claimed for $50,000 on October 26 at Keeneland, then went on to Gulfstream to add an optional claiming victory to his resume, which now stands at 15-6-4-1. He nearly doubled his earnings to $257,211 with the Connally winner's share.

Bred in Kentucky by Omega Farm, B.D. Gibbs Farm and Chancey Mill Farm, Papaw Bodie is out of the In the Wings mare Trillion Wing, making him a half-brother to last year's Remington Springboard Mile third Pee H Dee. The dark bay passed through the sales ring as a yearling, bringing $150,000 at Keeneland September, and comes from the same family as Grade 1 hero Super May, Grade 2 victress Diamond on the Run and multiple Grade 3-scoring sire Ide.

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