HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 26, 2017—Saturday live racing at Sam Houston Race Park gets underway at 6:10 pm with three stakes highlighted by the richest race of the 2017 Quarter Horse meet, the $483,600 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). The card will also feature the $197,700 Sam Houston Derby (G3) and the $48,360 Sam Houston Juvenile.

In between races, Sam Houston Race Park will host the Derby Dog Dash with some of the fastest small dogs in Houston including Wiener Dogs and Corgis. Families are invited to bring their four-legged friends to view the races trackside or in the air-conditioned comfort of the pet friendly Pavilion.

Following live racing on Saturday evening, Roger Creager will perform on the Bud Light Stage presented by Lonestar College.

Kas Tempting Leads the Field in the $483,600 Sam Houston Futurity (G2)

Sam Houston hosted two nights of trials on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 for the richest race of the Quarter Horse season, the $483,600 Sam Houston Futurity (G2).

The eighth trial of the first evening of trials produced the fastest qualifier when Kas Tempting posted an impressive gate-to wire debut under rider Luis Vivanco. Bred by Francisco Javier Garza and co-owned by Garza and Roberto J. Laurel, the son of Tempting Dash out of the Make It Anywhere mare Beaukas is trained by Jose Sanchez. The bay colt won his 330-yard trial in :16.740, into a nine-mph head wind, by a margin of 2 ½ lengths.

Sanchez was not surprised by the exceptional debut by Kas Tempting, a $16,000 repurchase at the 2016 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City.

"Back in January, we worked this colt in company with Blue Eyed Fance (winner of the $271,463 Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs), and she beat him by a nose," said Sanchez. "He’s a stud colt, and we weren’t sure about gelding him, but he is sound, and with each work, seems to be learning and doing better."

Kas Tempting was ridden by Luis Vivanco, but Manuel Gutierrez will ride the fastest qualifier Saturday night as Vivanco will pilot Lj Fastest Time. The son of The Louisiana Cartel is also trained by Sanchez and bred and owned by Vivanco’s wife, Elizabeth.

Sanchez’s younger brother, Angel, also has two finalists in Saturday night’s feature: Nocturnes and Capital Ice. Nocturnes, an Ivory James colt, is owned by Agustin Hernandez and will be ridden by Raul Ramirez, Jr. from post position nine. Angel Sanchez teamed with Ramirez with another Ivory James colt, Ivan James in the 2015 Sam Houston Futurity.

"I like our draw and have confidence in "Chico", who is a very good jockey," said Sanchez. Winning this futurity with Ivan James was a proud moment for me and my family."

Jody Garcia’s Capital Ice, also by Ivory James, was one of three horses tied with the fifth-fastest clocking of :16.984 on day one of the trials. The bay gelding won the shake for the final over Krash N Diamonds and Daddys Blushing. He will break from the far outside post under rider L. Salvador Martinez.

In addition to the Vivanco and Sanchez family ties, there is another interesting link shared by two finalists trained by Leon Bard. This Is A Deal Too and This Is An Eagle have the same dam, First Down Dash mare Lady Lilia.

Pete Scarmardo’s homebred This Is A Deal Too set the second-fastest time of Friday’s nine trials, winning the fourth race by 1 ½ lengths under jockey Francisco Calderon. The son of Dealagame broke his maiden in :16.740. "He’s a big horse with a nice long stride," said Scarmardo. "We’re hoping for a good finish in this final, but think his best lick will be 440 yards. His running style should give us a lot of options as the year progresses."

Scarmardo, who has been honored as Sam Houston Race Park’s leading Quarter Horse owner three times, is the breeder of This is an Eagle. Owner Mary G. Lynne Thompson purchased the talented colt for $100,000 at the 2016 TQHA Yearling Sale. He continues to impress both Bard and Calderon.

"I knew the first time we worked him," said Bard. "Mary Lynne is a great owner and stepped up to purchase this horse. Pete raised him; we think he’s the real deal."

Calderon, who won last year’s Sam Houston Futurity with Just Call Me Carter, is in total agreement with Bard.

"I told Leon back in December that this was going to be my best horse," said Calderon. "He is so fast and good in the gates too."

Leading Sam Houston trainer Judd Kearl won the 2011 Sam Houston Futurity with Jess Tee Off. His finalist this year is Lena Cartel, a Carters Cartel filly bred by Bobby Cox and owned by Meg and David E. Brown. She was a sharp winner by 1 ½ lengths on Saturday night, timed at :17.040. Her pilot will be Rodrigo Vallejo who has won the prestigious championship a record four times.

"I liked this filly and thought she would be one of my better 2-year-olds," said Kearl.

The winner of the Sam Houston Futurity, which had its first running in 1994, will earn a check in the amount of $193,440. This year's champion will join a noted list of the Sam Houston Futurity winners, including 2014 AQHA Champion 2-year-old Kiss My Hocks (2014) and Azoom. who won 11 races in 2004. Other notable winners include Snowy Alibi, Sassmaster, Especially Tres, Ivan James and Jess Tee Off.

Solid Field Assembled in the $197,700 Sam Houston Derby (G3)

Eight trials for the $197,700 Sam Houston Derby (G3) were contested on Friday, April 14 and a very talented group of 3-year-olds will compete in Saturday’s 350 yard final.

Making his first start this season Dash Quick Perry, a Down N Dash homebred racing for owner/breeder Pete Scarmardo, won his trial in :17.356 to set the fastest qualifying time. Leon Bard trains the sorrel gelding, who will be seeking his fifth career victory under jockey Francisco Calderon.

"We hope he runs the same kind of race in the final," said Scarmardo. "Leon said he pulled up well after the trial. He had a good 2-year-old campaign, but we think he will be even better as a 3-year-old. He’s a full brother to Kid Can Dash who improved quite a bit in his second year."

Bard also trains the sixth fastest qualifier, Pamela Stone’s homebred, Sochi Special, who will be ridden by L. Salvador Martinez.

Trainer Rolando Almanza will saddle Maxx, son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon, who recorded the second-fastest time in his trial victory. Owned by Irma Z. Vargas of Grand Prairie, Texas, Maxx won the 2016 John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3) here last May and went on to qualify for the $1 million Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park. Jockey Manuel Gutierrez has the return call on the 2-1 betting choice.

"He’s a nice horse and it is a pleasure to train for Irma," said Almanza. "She and her entire family love to watch Maxx run and will be in Houston for the final. I have a lot of confidence in Manny. It’s always tough to run against Judd and Leon, but with the Lord’s blessing, we look forward to a good race."

Almanza also conditions Eagle Cry, a son of leading sire One Famous Eagle, for owners Irma and Giovanni Vargas. Jockey Cipriano Vidana will ride.

2016 AQHA Racing champion trainer Judd Kearl saddled three trial winners including One Sweet Merlot, a son of One Sweet Jess for owners David Jones and Mark C. Cowan. He has won three of his five career efforts, including the John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge last August.

Jockey Jose Alvarez will ride One Sweet Merlot, with Rodrigo Vallejo opting to ride fourth fastest qualifier So Rapido. The Corona Cartel colt is owned by Rachuan Suarez and qualified to the Texas Classic Futurity.

$48,360 Sam Houston Juvenile Kicks Off Stakes Action Saturday Night

The $48,360 Sam Houston Juvenile, at 330 yards, will get stakes action started on Saturday evening. The field is comprised of 2-year-olds that competed in trials for the Sam Houston Futurity three weeks ago, but did not qualify. Entry to the Sam Houston Juvenile was granted with preference to their trial time.

Current Sam Houston leading trainer Judd Kearl teams up with Rodrigo Vallejo on Krash N Diamonds. Bred and owned by Bryon Gardner, the son of Krash Cartel ran second to This Is A Deal Too and was one of three horses tied with the fifth-fastest clocking of :16.984 on day one of the trials.

As previously mentioned, the shake for the final went to Capital Ice over Krash N Diamonds and Daddys Blushing.

Trainer Leon Bard won the 2015 and 2016 edition of the Juvenile, lighting up the toteboard last year with Tac My Time ($26.20) for owners Marco Ramirez and Gary Hartstack. Hartstack owns Daddys Blushing, a gelded son of Big Daddys Cartel, who broke his maiden on April 7.

Francisco Calderon opted to ride the 9-2 third choice. Bard will also saddle Just Another Natural, a filly bred and owned by T.C. Flack. Rider L. Salvador Martinez will pilot the daughter of Furyofthewind.

The Sam Houston Juvenile will run as race eight, followed by the Sam Houston Derby with the Sam Houston Futurity to be run as the tenth race of the card.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Live Quarter Horse returns to Sam Houston Race Park this week on Friday with the popular 50-cent Beer Friday from 6-9 pm.

Seven trials for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (see related story) will be contested with the ten fastest qualifiers returning for the final on Saturday, May 20.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level presented by Draft Kings, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming group events, racing events, shows and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.