By Martha Claussen

HOUSTON, TX—MAY 1, 2013—Ten trials for the $25,000-added John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge have been drawn for the Thursday, May 2 card at Sam Houston Race Park.

Trace Seis, fastest qualifier in the richest race of the 2013 Quarter Horse meet, the $452,800 Sam Houston Futurity (G2), returns to action in the fifth trial, The daughter of Tres Seis will be ridden by Cipriano Vidana, for owner and trainer Jose R. Espinosa of Mission, Texas.

Espinosa had an explanation for his filly's ninth-place finish in the Sam Houston Futurity.

“She went into her heat cycle at 6:30 a.m. the morning of the final,” said Espinosa. “It was just one of those bad timing situations that can happen.”

But Espinosa is encouraged that Trace Seis came out of the final in good shape and should give a good account of herself on Thursday evening.

"She's very sound, and has always been a fast breaker from the gate," said her conditioner, who has five additional horses running in trials. "It will be a busy night, but I am looking forward to it."

Several other trainers have multiple entrants in the John Deere Juvenile trials including Guy Hopkins, who will saddle seven 2-year-olds. Chromio, a son of Ivory James, owned by Michael Amburn, was an impressive winner on April 5.

The ten fastest qualifiers will return on Saturday, May 18 for the final and the opportunity to represent Texas in the $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course on November 9.

Rescheduled Challenge Stakes Highlight the Friday Evening Card

The Saturday, April 27 live Quarter Horse race card was canceled at Sam Houston Race Park due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in the greater Houston area. Two stakes, that were to have been contested last Saturday, have been rescheduled for Friday, May 3.

The draw for the $27,540 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge and the $24,120 Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge took place on Tuesday, April 30.

The Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge, at a distance of 350-yards, will be run as the seventh race on Friday evening. he 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.

Ocean Runaway is owned by Robert Guzman and trained by 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.

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.

A field of ten fillies and mares will compete in the Merial Distaff Texas Challenge. The field for the 400-yard dash 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.

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 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge is set as the ninth race on Friday with an approximate post time of 10:06 p.m. (CT). The winning mare will represent Texas in the $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos on November 9.

Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge to be Contested on Saturday Afternoon

Houston fans will have an opportunity to enjoy all the Kentucky Derby festivities as well as live American Quarter Horse racing. The afternoon card begins with a special post time of 1:00 p.m. Two stakes, the $42,873 Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge and the always exciting 110-yard Texas Twister, are set for Saturday afternoon.

Fastest qualifier Lets Get Silk leads the field in the Bank of America Maiden Challenge. The daughter of Mr Jess Berry topped four qualifying trials two weeks ago at Sam Houston Race Park. Owned by Silvia Robles, the 3-year-old filly is trained by Abel Morin and drew post position eight for the final. Jockey Ricardo Aguirre retains the mount.

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Saturday's live card will also feature four trials for the Adequan Texas Derby Challenge.

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.