By Martha Claussen

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 24, 2013—Two AQHA Racing challenge stakes are set at Sam Houston Race Park. Saturday's card will feature two Bank of America Challenge stakes, the $22,000-added Merial Distaff Texas Challenge and the $18,000-added Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge.

Solid Field of Fillies and Mares to Compete in Merial Distaff Texas

A field of ten fillies and mares will compete in Saturday’s Merial Distaff Texas Challenge. The draw for the 400 yard stakes took place on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 and features several stakes winners as well as some talented, but lightly raced fillies.

Last year’s Merial Distaff runner-up, Bertha Venation is the high earner in the field with $175,591 in career purses. The 6-year-old daughter of Corona Caliente is owned by Jose Luis Salazar and trained by Erika Huitron. She has won nine of her 24 starts, including the $42,000 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge last September at Lone Star Park. Jockey Santos Carrizales looks forward to a strong performance from the Arkansas-bred mare.

“She is a gutsy mare,” said Carrizales. “She gives100% every time and the distance of 400 yards is perfect for her.”

The field will also include two track record holders at Sam Houston Race Park: Sarah Must and Sweet Oblivion. Sarah Must set a new 350-yard record (:17.238) here on March 30, 2012. Owned by J. T. Hooten and Jesse Yoakum, the 4-year-old Jet Cartel filly will be ridden by Jerry Lee Yoakum. She ran seventh in the $20,000 Silestone Stakes here on April 6, which was disappointing to her trainer.

“She got wiped out,” said Jesse Yoakum. “On Saturday, all you can hope for is a clean race. It comes down to whoever gets the best trip.”

Sweet Oblivion, a well-bred daughter of Mr Jess Perry holds the 300-yard record of :15.101. Owned and bred by Joe Kirk Fulton, the speedy gray filly also made her 2013 debut in the Silestone Stakes, running second to Shakemdontbreakem. Regular rider, Jose Alvarez, will remain aboard.

“She needed that race,” said her trainer, Mike Robbins. “I was encouraged that she was really running well at the end. She came out of the race in good shape and is doing great.”

The winning mare will represent Texas in the $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos on November 9.

Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge on Saturday

The $18,000-added Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge will also be contested Saturday evening. On April 13, two trial races were held to determine the ten finalists for the 350-yard event. The race is for Bank of America Racing Challenge-enrolled horses that have started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less within 12 months prior to the sustaining/late payment deadline.

DW Runaway B won the second trial by a neck, recording the fastest qualifying time of :17.935 for 350 yards. Jockey Luis Vivanco guided the 4-year-old son of Ocean Runaway for owner Robert Guzman and trainer Manuel Vega Jr.

Juan Saucedo will saddle second-fastest qualifier, Ocean Bank owned by his father, Filimon Saucedo. Eleazar Hernandez will retain the mount on the Texas-bred gelding, who was clocked in :17.957. Trainer Judd Kearl and his first-call rider, Rodrigo Valllejo team up with Freddies Crash, who earned the third-fastest qualifying time in the first trial. The 6-year-old son of Fredricksburg is owned by Virginia Sitton.

The winner of the Starter Allowance Challenge will earn a berth to the $75,000 Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos on November 9.

Sam Houston Race Park offers simulcasting on Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse tracks across the country. For more information on opening days, post times and key stakes races, visit shrp.com.

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.