HOUSTON, TX—MAY 27, 2015—The lightly raced El Chinto Boy broke his maiden with an impressive 1¼ length victory, in the eighth trial on opening night at Sam Houston Race Park, setting the fastest qualifying time for the richest Sam Houston Maiden Classic in history.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from the 111 head of 3-year-old & up maidens who participated in 12 trials races Friday night, will return to Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, April 11 and vie for the winner's share of a record-breaking $102,300 purse going 350 yards.

Ridden by jockey Damian Martinez, El Chinito Boy recovered quickly from a bobbled start to take the lead and extend to 1¼ lengths over fellow qualifier Potus while posting the top mark of :17.698 seconds, a 92 speed index for 350 yards.

Trainer Josue Ponce was saddling the Sss Ace In The Hole gelding for his third lifetime start, first in 2015, for owner Juan Antonio Avila. Bred in Texas by Javier Contreras, El Chinito Boy finished second twice last year, including a non black-type maiden stakes race worth $55,400 at the Gillespie County Fairground last August. Out of the Willie Wanta Dash mare, Willys Little Filly, the 4-year-old's offical record stands at (3) 1-2-0 and he has earned $8,695.

These two “young guns”, trainer Ponce, 19, and jockey, Martinez, 21, have worked in tandem to get their charge primed for his 4-year-old season. Ponce has only been training for one year, and liked what he saw last night.

“I think it was a combination of Damien getting to know him and his training,” said Ponce. “He’s a good horse; I was just worried about the lights as last year at Gillespie, he ran in the afternoon.

Martinez comes into the 2015 Sam Houston Race Park meet with a great deal of confidence. He won the first stakes race of his career one year ago, guiding Jrc Callas First to victory in the $20,000 Harris County Stakes. The Texas-bred won seven more stakes last year and was honored as AQHA World Champion.

“I’ve galloped El Chinito Boy several times,” said Martinez. “He loves to run, but hadn’t quite figured it. Last night, even after he stumbled in the break, he really ran well. I hope he can do that again in the final.”

Jose Luis Ozuna's Pyc Wagon Shaker, also making just his third career start, defeated fellow qualifiers Southern Ms Jess and A Vodka Celebrity in the first trial while posting the second fastest time of :17.971 seconds, an 87 speed index.

Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo rode the Pyc Paint Your Wagon gelding to a head victory for trainer Alex Villarreal. Bred in North Dakota by David Wisdom, Pyc Wagon Shaker finished third in his last start, a maiden race nearly a year ago at Sam Houston Race Park. He is out of Shake Em Diva, by Royal Shake Em.

The aforementioned Potus, a 3-year-old Toast To Dash gelding racing for owner Juan Carlos Perez, held on to the third fastest clocking of :17.915. Leslie Padilla saddle Potus in his first career start for owner/ breeder Pat Allen. The homebred is out of Toole N Round by Jody O Toole.

For a complete list of qualifiers with their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Special Post Time Set for Saturday, April 4

Due to an exceptional number of nominations for the Sam Houston Futurity (G2), there will be 19 trials run on Saturday, April 4. As a result, Sam Houston Race Park has moved its evening post time to 2:00 p.m. The ten fastest 2-year-olds will advance to the final which will be run on Saturday, April 25.

The 2015 live American Quarter Horse meet will feature racing every Thursday and Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. The racing season will run through Sunday, May 16.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.