Wagson prevails in Premiere Stakes

A little more than a month after being claimed for $40,000 at Fair Grounds on March 5, Wagson recouped a large portion of his purchase price by winning the $50,000 Premiere Stakes at Lone Star Park on the track’s opening night Thursday.

Stalking the pace under Lindey Wade, Wagson rallied from seventh to take command in midstretch, getting the jump on fellow closer Solar Charge, and lasted over that rival for a head victory in a race for Texas-bred older males. He raced 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.80, paying $7 as the favorite.

He’s a Bling, with Hall of Famer Russell Baze in town from California for the mount, finished third, followed by F J Uncle Vic in fourth. Explicit, Martys Wimbledon, and Nublado Bling completed the order of finish.

Music Row, A M Milky Way, and morning-line favorite Texas Air were scratched.

The winner, a 6-year-old gelded son of Wagon Limit, earned $30,000 for owner Randy Galloway of Wimp Free Racing Stable. Bret Calhoun trains. “Sometimes,” said Galloway, emphasizing the word in a post-race television interview, “a plan works.”