HOUSTON, TX—May 16 2015—Sam Houston Race Park's 2015 American Quarter Horse meet concluded today with an excellent card featuring two Bank of America Challenge stakes races and the simulcast of the 140th Preakness Stakes. Trainer Rolando Almanza capped off an excellent racing season at Sam Houston Race Park with a victory by Undivided Atemption in the $77,760 John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3).

The son of Tempting Dash, was an impressive 1-¾ length winner in his trial under jockey Manuel Gutierrez, recording the third-fastest qualifying time. Despite a 20 mph head wind, the sorrel gelding fired perfectly from the starting gate, drawing off to 1-¼ length score over Almanza’s other entrant, Favored Fire. The final time for the 350-yard stakes was :17.610 seconds.

“He was a little green in trials,” said Almanza. “We knew he could run; we were just hoping for a good break. He did it and came out on top. I want to thank the Lord and Quency for sending him to me.”

Bred in South Carolina and owned by Quency Grant, Undivided Atemption earned $35,770 for the victory and is undefeated in his two starts.

“He was born at the house and my son broke him,” said Grant. “We've run second in a previous stakes, but this one was really big; my first stakes race. I’m really excited!”

Almanza is on a roll this year, with two horses, Daytona B and Moonin The Eagle, in the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com National Poll for older horses. He has already shipped Moonin The Eagle to Ruidoso Downs and Daytona B will make his next start in the Bank of America Challenge Championship at Ajax Downs. He indicated that Undivided Atemption will be heading to Indiana Grand this summer and then to Lone Star for the Texas Classic Futurity.

Undvided Atemption paid $4.60 as the betting favorite. Favored Fire rallied for second with This Bug Can Dash finishing third.

Favored Fire races for owner/breeder Luis Miguel Albores-Gleason. Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo had the riding call for trainer Almanza. The California homebred son of leading sire Walk Thru Fire is out to Favored by Teller Cartel. The $15,552 runner's up check boosted Favored Fire's two-race earnings mark to $17,352.

Pete Scarmardo's homebred This Bug Can Dash picked up $7,776 for this third place finish. Brian Stroud conditions the daughter of Down N Dash out of Cant Bug This Game, by Game Patriot. Luis Ramirez was aboard the two-time winner from three starts this season.

Sensual Queen, Bos Big Shamoon, Brookstone Dash, Dashin Dictorial, Scarface Cartel and Sr Esmeralda completed the field.

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