Preview Racing


Seven Trials Set Friday for Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby
Multiple graded winner Eysa Jess Jumpn makes her Sam Houston debut in Friday night's Sam Houston Derby(G3) trials.

© Coady Photography
Seven Trials Set Friday for Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 8, 2019—Seven of the nine races on opening night at Sam Houston Race Park are trials for the $35,000-added Sam Houston Derby(RG3). The fastest ten qualifiers of the 350-yard trials will advance to the final on Friday, May 3.

The fifth race on the card will showcase one of the top 3-year-olds in the region, Eysa Jess Jumpn. The daughter of Heza Fast Dash out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Jumpn was purchased for a modest $11,500 at the 2016 LQHBA Yearling Sale by Jose Estrada Quarter Horses.

As the fastest qualifier, she defeated a competitive field in the richest race of the Delta Downs Quarter Horse meet, the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) and finished 2018 with a commanding win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile on December 9 at Fair Grounds.

Eysa Jess Jumpn makes her Sam Houston debut with career earnings of $440,770, which is the highest of any 3-year-olds competing in Friday night's trials.

Rider Guadalupe Lucio, Jr. will guide the bay filly, who has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite in her trial.

"She is sound and already has a stakes win this year (the Billy Montgomery at Louisiana Downs)," said trainer, Josue Huitron. "We look forward to running her on Friday."

Trainer Leon Bard has seven horses entered including Woulda, a Tempting Dash gelding who broke his maiden one year ago at Sam Houston Race Park and finished fourth in the $479,000 TQHA Sale Futurity last July at Retama Park.

Bred and owned by P and J Racing Ltd. and Denis Oscar Strobel, Woulda will run in the third race (first trial) under regular rider Francisco Calderon. P and J Racing Ltd. also owns LJ Moonrise, a filly by Separatist, who will run in the ninth race, and final trial on the card. She has won three of her six starts and makes her 3-year-old debut with $115,643 banked to date.

The final trial also features $406,000 Dash for Cash Futurity champion Paint Me a Sinner. The daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon is owned by Claudia Avila and trained by Orlando Oroczco. She finished her 2-year-old campaign with three consecutive wins under jockey Ricardo Garza-Cruz.

The same connections will run Zoomin Patriot in the seventh race. The gelding by Jet Black Patriot qualified for the final of the $700,000 Lee Berwick Futurity last July at Delta Downs.

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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.