HOUSTON, TX—MAY 3, 2017—The $15,000 Texas Twister, at 110 yards, returns for its ninth renewal at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday. The winner of last year’s exciting "super sprint" was Red Corona Warrior, surging to the wire in :6.786 seconds.

Owned Almada Racing, the 5-year-old son of Coronas Fast Dash is trained by Josue Ponce, and will break from post position two under Luciano Duenez. This will be the third start of the meet for the sorrel gelding who qualified for the $103,320 Bank of America Texas Challenge (G2), finishing fifth to world champion Jessies First Down.

"He faced a tough field in the Bank of America Challenge," said Ponce. "This horse breaks fast and won this last year with a clean trip. He’s doing fine, so I hope he can win it again."

Morning-line favoritism goes to Katharsis, a 3-year-old filly by American Runaway. She won the $146,000 Gillespie County Fair Futurity last summer for trainer Jose Sanchez, and will be ridden by his son, Eddie.

Trainer Eusevio Huitron will saddle two runners in the Texas Twister. Surviving Legend prepped for this in an allowance on April 17, running second for jockey Nestor Duran.

His other contender is Undivided Atemption, a 4-year-old son of Tempting Dash; he won the 2015 John Deere Juvenile Texas Challenge and makes his 2017 debut under Claudio Aguilar.

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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.