Preview Racing


Patriotic Games Returns in Sam Houston Futurity Trials
Grade 3-placed Patriotic Games will make his next start in Friday’s 330-yard Sam Houston Futurity (G2) trials at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Hodges Photography
Patriotic Games Returns in Sam Houston Futurity Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 4, 2018—Ramiro J. Flores Sr.’s Patriotic Games, a graded stakes placed son of all-time leading sire First Down Dash, will make his next start in Friday’s 330-yard Sam Houston Futurity (G2) trials at Sam Houston Race Park.

Patriotic Games will be stretching out in distance off of his second-place finish, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Going Noble, in the 300-yard, $238,000 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs on March 21. A $38,000 purchase at last year’s Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City, the colt drew post 9 and will be ridden by Manuel Gutierrez for trainer Eduardo Morales in the first of 13 trials.

Other noteworthy 2-year-olds entered in the Sam Houston Futurity trials include Capitan De La Playa, a gelded son of Captain Courage who is coming off of a third-place finish in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity. Trained by Angel Sanchez for owners Roberto Hernandez and Agustin Hernandez, Capitan De La Playa was a $20,000 buy at last year’s Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale in San Antonio.

Capitan De La Playa drew post 8 and will be ridden by Jose Ivan Martinez in the fifth heat.

A total of 124 2-year-olds has been entered in the Sam Houston Futurity trials. Post time for the first heat is set for 6:10 p.m. (CDT). The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the April 28, $100,000-added Sam Houston Futurity final.

All Sam Houston Race Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.