Celebratingtheeagle and jockey James Flores hold off Takillya Onthe Hocks to capture the $55,500 Miss Sam Houston Stakes on June 13 at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 13, 2026—After compiling multiple stakes placings over the past two seasons, the Celebratingtheeagle finally added a black-type win to her resume Saturday night when she defeated Takillyya Onthe Hocks in the $55,500 Miss Sam Houston Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

Three-quarters of a length separated Celebratingtheeagle and Takillyya Onthe Hocks at the finish of the 330-yard event, while Jess Louisiana Girl finished another neck back in third.

Ridden by champion jockey James Flores, the 4-year-old filly clocked a 101 speed index in :16.633 seconds. Trained Joseph Manucy, Sent off at 9-1 odds, Celebratingtheeagle’s winning effort paid $20.20 for the upset.

The winning connections of Celebratingtheeagle accept the $55,500 Miss Sam Houston Stakes trophy on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

Owned by Jesus Molina, Celebratingtheeagle earned $33,300 for the victory and increased her bankroll to $148,680. The daughter of This Is an Eagle has now won six of 19 career starts.

The victory followed several close calls in stakes competition. Celebratingtheeagle previously finished second in the La Villita Stakes and TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes and was third in the Old South Derby. She also was also a finalist in both the Sam Houston Futurity (G2) and EVD Derby.

Bred in Texas by Debbie Eller, she is out of the Azoom mare Zoomin N Celebrating. Celebratingtheeagle sold for $29,000 at the 2023 TQHA Yearling Sale.

Takillyya Onthe Hocks collected $11,100 for second while earning the first black-type placing of her career. Oliver Martinez was aboard the Francisco Perez Jr. trainee.

Racing for Sunset Well Service, Inc., Takillyya Onthe Hocks has compiled a record of four wins, five seconds and one third from 17 starts while earning $59,433. She was previously a finalist in the TQHA Juvenile and Old South Derby.

The daughter of Kiss My Hocks was bred in Texas by Sunset Well Service Inc. from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Takillyya Gurl. She was a $33,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

Making her first start since winning the Yellow Rose of Texas Stakes last November, Jess Louisiana Girl earned $6,105 for third. Claudio Aguilar had the riding assignment aboard the Victor Fierro-trained filly, who races for owner Eleazar Martinez Sr.

Last season, Jess Louisiana Girl won the Yellow Rose of Texas Stakes and John Buchanan Memorial Stakes. She also finished second in the Miss Sam Houston Stakes and Glenn Blodgett Stakes and was third in the Phillips Jr Stakes (G2).

The daughter of Chilitos was bred in Texas by Anahi Martinez out of Sissy Cartel by The Louisiana Cartel. She was a $24,000 repurchase in the TQHA Yearling Sale.

Celena Olena finished fourth and was followed by Ruse Dynasty 123, Dm Bella Star, Cowgurl Up, Mrs Pyc Painted Nova, Jj Jessa Dynasty, and Killin Time.

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