HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 17, 2013—Saturday evening's $101,970 Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship (G1) will be a highly competitive event with some of the top older horses in the region competing at a distance of 440 yards.

Sam Houston Race Park ran two trials two weeks ago to determine the ten finalists. Trainer Jonathan Castaneda is hoping for back-to-back wins in the stakes. Last year Kool Country Man won the final and ably represented Texas with a fourth-place finish in the $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows last October.

The 5-year-old son of Country Chicks Man, won his 440-yard trial in :21.766 seconds, recording the fastest time. Owned by Jose Socorro Vera, Jr. and Juan Manuel G. Barbosa, Kool Country Man was ridden by Luis Vivanco.

Kool Country Man is a special horse for the 24-year-old Castaneda, who resides in Houston, just 15 minutes from Sam Houston Race Park. His victory in the 2012 Bank of America Texas Challenge was the first Grade 1 of Castaneda’s career.

“We are very proud of him,” said the young trainer. “Since last year, he has matured and is a true stakes horse. We’ve given him a little more time between races and are hoping for good luck in the final.”v In addition to Kool Country Man, Castaneda also qualified Jessa Kool Perry also bred by Ramiro Lopez and Bob Gaston.

Runaway Wagon posted the second-fastest qualifying time of :21.803 under rider David Alvarez. The son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon is owned by Dr. Tommy Hays and Bobby J. Barnett. Bred in Kansas by Michelle Meiwes, Runaway Wagon faced some serious challenges in his 2-year-old campaign, according to trainer Bobby Martinez.

As a 2-year-old, the gelding won his trial for the Sam Houston Futurity (G2) and finished third in an All American Futurity (G1) trial but did not qualify for either futurity. However, he "tied up" following his trial at Ruidoso Downs and was in serious distress.

"The track vet thought he needed to be put down," said Martinez. "But Dr. Hays was out there and said 'hold on'. Thankfully, he recovered and came home to Elgin."

Runaway Wagon emerged sound and won the 2012 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs before returning to Ruidoso to compete in trials last August for the All American Derby. Martinez, whose training base is located in Elgin, Texas, has a long-standing history with owners, Barnett and Hays. Dr. Hays is renown in the region for his expertise in equine orthopedic and soft tissue surgery at the Elgin Veterinary Hospital.

"I have great respect for my owners," states Martinez. "To be located that close to Dr. Hay's clinic has been a blessing."

Kool Country Man drew post position six and will run as an entry with Jessa Kool Perry. Vivanco retains the mount on the defending champion, while John Hamilton will pilot Jessa Kool Perry.

Jess A Comment is another notable contender in the Bank of America Texas Challenge. The 4-year-old gelded son of First Comment will make his 14th lifetime start for owner Michael Amburn and trainer Guy Hopkins. He represented Texas in the 2012 Bank of America Derby Challenge at Prairie Meadows. Luis Ramirez will ride, breaking from post position three.

Filimon Saucedo's The Scotch Is Dun has won five of his eight career starts, including the $190,000 Evangeline Derby last December. Juan Carlos Saucedo trains the 3-year-old son of Hiclass La Jolla for his father.

Since the Bank of America Racing Challenge began in 1993, the program has distributed more than $60 million to breeders and owners of racing American Quarter Horses. The outstanding program is now in its twenty first season.

Saturday's champion will advance to the $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1). The 2013 Bank of America Challenge Championships will take place at Los Alamitos in Cypress, California on Saturday, November 9. Each year, the winner of the Challenge Championship is awarded a berth into Quarter Horse racing's most prestigious race, the $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1), also held at Los Alamitos.

The Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship will run as the ninth race of the Saturday evening card, with an estimated post time of 9:28 p.m. (CT).

Defending Champion Bok Man Returns in Saturday's $23,400 Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge

The $23,400 Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge drew a field of seven American Quarter Horses who will compete at 870 yards.

Defending champion Bok Man captured the 2012 Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge, winning the first stakes of his career. The 5-year-old son of Boknaai is owned by Cynthia A. Jerman and trained by her husband, Jerry, Bok Man will once again be ridden by their son, Jeff.

He will have a rematch with last year's runner-up, Kite Flyer, who has won five of his ten distance races for Dark Horse Partnership. The 6-year-old Texas -bred is trained by Ryan Basham and regular rider Santos Carrizales retains the mount.

The winner of the Red Cell Texas Distance Challenge will earn a berth to the $125,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos on November 9.

Four Trials for the Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge on Friday

The Friday, April 19 card at Sam Houston Race Park will include four trials for the $18,000-added Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge. The series is written for American Quarter Horses that are still maidens and enrolled in the Bank of America Racing Challenge may compete in a series of Maiden Challenge Races at selected tracks.

Trainers Guy Hopkins, Judd Kearl, Jorge Haddad and Juan Carlos Saucedo have entrants in the trials. The ten fastest qualifiers will return for the final on Saturday, May 4.

Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

Juan Carlos Saucedo remains in first place in the trainer standings in the 2013 Quarter Horse meet at Sam Houston Race Park. Saucedo has nine wins, including a victory last Saturday by Flirtingwithamiracle in the $197,000 Sam Houston Derby (G3).

Manuel Vega, Jr. added two wins last week and secured second place in the standings with seven victories. Bobby Martinez, Judd Kearl, Jose S. Espinosa and Trey Wood are tied for third with five wins each. Wood is the leading money earner based on his score in the richest race of the meet, the $452,800 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). The winning filly, Especially Tres, earned $181,120 for owner Jim D. Pitts.

A very competitive battle is ensuing for leading rider at Sam Houston Race Park with Ricardo Aguirre and Luis Vivanco tied with 11 wins each. David Alvarez follows closely with 10 victories and Rodrigo Vallejo, last year's leading Sam Houston rider, won four races last week to remain in contention with 8 wins.

Jose S. Espinosa is the leader in the owner standings as his horses have won four races in the 2013 Quarter Horse meet. Antonio Delgado, Jr., Michael Amburn and Meryl and Joe Kirk Fulton are tied for second with three wins each.

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 the Champion Energy Services Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.