HOUSTON, TX—MAY 21, 2019—The final of the $81,400 Space City Maiden Futurity will be contested Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park with Famous Cash Corona installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite. This is the first running of the 350-yard event.

Seven trials were run on May 6 and the son of One Famous Eagle out of the Corona Cartel Mare Streakin Cash Corona set the fastest qualifying time, crossing the wire in :17.980 seconds under jockey Luis Vivanco.

Bred by Terry and Irene Stennett, owner Jose R. Espinosa purchased the bay gelding for $45,000 at the September Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. Espinosa was the leading owner at Sam Houston Race Park in the 2013 Quarter Horse meet.

Vivanco will have the call in the final for trainer Jose U. Lopez, and will break from the far outside post. Lopez gives his rider credit for noting the potential in the Oklahoma-bred juvenile.

"He ran sixth in his debut, a trial for the Sam Houston Futurity ( on April 13)," said Lopez. "Luis told us that he broke slow, but felt like a runner and thought he deserved another chance. He showed us more in his trial and is a very sound horse."

It has been a busy month for Lopez, known as "Pepe". He also trains Ed O, who was the fastest qualifier in 15 trials for the $369,405 Laddie Futurity (RG2) at Delta Downs. On Saturday night, he ran a game second in the rich final.

"That was such a close one," commented Lopez of the runner-up finish to Tdz Jet Black Down. "He'll be back for the Lee Berwick Futurity."

Other top qualifiers for the Space City Maiden Futurity include Abraham Huitron's Be A Freighttrain, a son of Freighttrain B, who won his trial in :18.131 seconds. Current Sam Houston leading trainer Santiago Riojas, Jr. will give a leg up to rider Nestor Duran. This will be the third career start for the sorrel gelding, bred in Texas by Ty Rampy.

Tres Y Seis, a $25,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, was also a trial winner and posted the third-fastest clocking of :18.189 seconds. Vivanco rode him in the trials for trainer Jorge Barrera, but jockey Cipriano Vidana will have the mount in the final, breaking from post position two.

The $81,400 Space City Maiden Futurity will run as the eighth race on the ten-race card, which begins at 7:15 pm (CT). The winner will earn $32,560.

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

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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.