Tejano Twist Wins Again in Steel Valley Sprint

Tejano Twist (3g Practical Joke x Haley’s Lolipop, by Cuvee) registered his second stakes victory on Monday with a victory in the Listed Steel Valley Sprint Stakes.

Slow to get going early in the six-furlong dirt race, Tejano Twist spent the first quarter in last place before steadily working his way through the field. Chris Landeros piloted him to the six path down the stretch and Tejano Twist showed an outstanding turn of foot to get up by half a length.

It was the fifth career victory for the JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis representative, who is trained by Chris Hartman. The earner of over $550,000 – including $270,000 this year – he’s hit the board in 11 of his starts.

Bred by Tom Durant, Tejano Twist is one of two stakes winners out of the Grade III placed Haley’s Lilipop. That mare is a half-sister to Grade III winner and Grade I-placed Maddalena, who produced Grade II winner Bern Identity amog five stakes performers.

Practical Joke’s first crop includes seven stakes winners with his 22 juvenile winners including Grade I winner Chocolate Gelato and Grade I third Kaling. He’s also a star in the Southern Hemisphere with four Grade I winners in Chile in 2022.