HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 12, 2019—In just her second start this season multiple graded winner Eysa Jess Jumpn dominated seven trials Friday night for the Grade 3 $167,500 Sam Houston Derby.

Making her first start outside Louisiana, the daughter of leading sire Heza Fast Dash proved she could compete in open company. She was bumped at the start of trial 3 (race 5), but quickly drew clear of her rivals under jockey Guadalupe Lucia, Jr., to post a 2-˝ length win. She completed the 350 yards in :17.518 seconds, a 97 speed index with a 10 mph crosswind.

Conditioned by trainer Josue Huitron, the brown filly from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Jumpn, scored her seventh career win from 10 starts. Racing for owner Jose Estrada Quarter Horses, Eysa Jess Jumpn entered the Sam Houston trials off a win in the Billy Montgomery Stakes January 19 at Louisiana Downs.

"She got bumped right out of the gate, but recovered and won easily," said Huitron. "This was her first time at Sam Houston and it was different than the Louisiana tracks. Over there, the paddock is right next to the track, but here, she had to go on the path (around the grandstand) to enter the racetrack. 'Lupe' said she was a little hyper warming up, but still ran her race."

The 26-year-old Huitron and his younger brother, Joel, who serves as his assistant, loaded Eysa Jess Jumpn Friday night and headed back to Louisiana to attend the annual LQHBA Awards Banquet. Eysa Jess Jumpn will be honored as Champion 2-year-old filly and Huitron will pick up his first LQHBA Champion Trainer award.

In addition to winning the Lee Berwick Futurity with Eysa Jess Jumpn, Huitron trains Larry Boudreaux's Mpshinning who captured the richest race on the Louisiana Quarter Horse circuit, the LQHBA Louisiana Million last December at Evangeline Downs.

"It's something you work hard for," Huitron explained. "My family and I look forward to being there Saturday night."

Bred in Louisiana by D & S Racing LLC, Eysa Jess Jumpn won the Lee Berwick Memorial Louisiana Futurity(RG1) and the Louisiana Championship Day Juvenile(RG2) last year and has banked nearly $443,000.

Another Louisiana-bred invader Zoomin Patriot posted a 1-˝ length win under jockey Ricardo Garza-Cruz in trial 5 (race 7) to get the second fastest time of :17.630 seconds, a 94 speed index.

The son of Jet Black Patriot was the first of three Sam Houston Derby qualifiers saddled by trainer Orlando Orozco. Racing for owner Claudia Avila, the black gelding entered the trials off a fourth place effort in the Mardi Gras Derby on March 16th at Louisiana Downs.

Bred by Run Bayou Ranch LLC, from the Azoom mare Zippy Zoomer, Zoomin Patriot has compiled an (11) 5-1-2 record and banked nearly $120,000. In his only appearances outside the Bayou State, he is 2-for-2 including winning the 2018 Dash For Cash Juvenile at Lone Star Park.

Orozco also saddled 4th fastest Paint Me A Sinner and 6th fastest Mr Corona Crystal.

Leading Sam Houston trainer Leon Bard saddled third fastest qualifier Lj Moonrise for owner P and J Racing Ltd. Francisco Calderon rode the daughter of leading sire Separatist to a neck win in the closing trial over Paint Me A Sinner, setting the third fastest time of :17.649 seconds, also a 94 speed index.

Elizabeth Vivanco bred the black filly in Texas from the One Famous Eagle mare Risen Eagle. Second in the TQHA Sale Futurity(RG3) at Retama Park last summer, Lj Moonrise has earned $117,743 with four wins in seven career starts.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from the 53 3-year-olds who participated in tonight's trials, will return to Sam Houston Race Park on Friday, May 3 to vie for the $67,000 winner's purse.

For a complete list of qualifiers to the 2019 Sam Houston Derby(G3), including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE .

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the race track and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit shrp.com.