HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 24, 2021—Fear The Dragon was impressive setting the fastest time in Saturday's $332,900 Sam Houston Derby trials, however two-time restricted Grade 1 winner San Lorenzo made this 3-year-old debut memorable by becoming AQHA Racing newest millionaire.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Sam Houston Race Park on Friday, May 14th to vie for the $133,160 winner's share of the purse going 350 yards.

Starting for the first-time in open company and making his 3-year-old debut, San Lorenzo and jockey David Alvarez rolled to a 2-¼ length gate-to-wire win in Saturday's closing trial to get the second fastest clocking of :17.406 seconds, a 106 speed index with a 12 mph tailwind. Hector Alcala conditions the son of champion sire Coronas Leaving You.

"We knew it was going to be tough, but this is an amazing horse," Alcala said.

The bay colt scored his fifth career win in seven starts for owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr. He won both the LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) and the Lee Berwick Million Futurity(RG1) last season.

"People told us that we would never have another horse as great as Dashnunder Afullmoon," Marquez, Jr. said. "That was just the beginning. We just stayed focused and then San Lorenzo came. Thank God we were able to have our first million dollar earner tonight."

Dashunder Afullmoon, a restrict grade 1 winning daughter of leading sire Heza Fast Dash, won eight of 11 career starts and earned $711,951 for Marquez, Jr. in 2017 and 2018.

Bred by Jim and Natalie Montgomery, from the Mr Eye Opener mare In The Open, San Lorenzo picked $9,000 for his trial win to boost his career earnings mark to $1,002,340. He is a brother to AQHA Racing champion and second-crop sire Open Me A Corona.

"I have always said that Jim and Natalie Montgomery are one of the top breeders in Louisiana, and they have one special mare, In The Open," Marquez, Jr. added."

Getting his first win in two starts this season, Fear The Dragon came into the trials off a second-place troubled effort in the Oklahoma Derby(G2) trials at Remington Park March 7th.

Under jockey Manuel Gutierrez, Fear The Dragon drove to a one-length win in the sixth trial (Race 7) to get the top qualifying mark of :17.331 seconds, a 107 speed index with a 12 mph tailwind.

Trainer Adrian Huitron conditions the son of leading sire Favorite Cartel for owner Jose Espinoza.

"Two-year-old's are still learning; as 3-year-olds, you just have to work with them," Huitron said after the win. "You make little tweaks and get them ready. We knew he had it in him. Manny did a great job. He shipped to three surrounding states last year; we felt he was going to be one of our best runners in the trials."

Bred in California by Rafter W Stables, from the Dean Miracle mare Hidden Dragon, Fear The Dragon has won four of 10 career starts and banked $90,664. He was second in the Speedhorse QH Futurity(G3) and a finalist in the Dash For Cash Futurity(G2) and Evangeline Downs Futurity(G3) last year.

The lightly-raced Tall Timbers held the fastest time from the opening trial through the first five heats for owner Dianna Karen Estrada and trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. Also ridden by Manuel Gutierrez the son of leading sire Corona Cartel posted a half-length win in :17.488 seconds, a 103 speed index with a 12 mph tailwind, the fourth fastest on the night. "He came out strong," said Diaz. "He had a little bit of a tail wind behind him, and could have gone a couple more yards. His owners are here in Texas; we have high hopes for him."

Making just his fourth career start, Tall Timbers got his second win while making his 3-year-old debut in the Sam Houston Derby trials tonight. Robert and Karen Nunnally bred the bay colt from the Dash For Cash mare Tiny Dash Of Cash.

Blame The Fed, also a Favorite Cartel gelding, who finished second to Fear The Dragon posted the third fastest clocking of :17.479 seconds. Also trained by Juan Diaz, Jr., the California-bred is winless in three start.

Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. had the riding call aboard the Steve D. Burns, DVM bred gelding out of Eagle On The Fly by One Famous Eagle.

For a complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the Sam Houston Derby(G3) CLICK HERE.

Additional reporting courtesy Martha Claussen.

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Jonathan Horowitz Next in the Sam Houston Race Park Announcer Rotation

Racing fans will have the opportunity to listen to unique race calls from a variety of guest announcers throughout the 2021 Quarter Horse meet. Opening weekend duties went to John McGary, the voice of Louisiana Downs. He will be back in the Louisiana Downs booth for opening day of their Thoroughbred meet on Saturday, May 1.

When live racing returns on Thursday, April 29, Jonathan Hororwitz will be in the booth and co-hosting the SHRPe preview show with Sam Houston Race Park’s racing analyst Trey Stiles. An industry veteran who called his first at Los Alamitos Race Course in 1999, Horowitz broadcasts horse races around the world for the Arabian Jockey Club and is the president of CANTER USA.

Other respected industry professionals lending their voices to Sam Houston Race Park through the 2021 Quarter Horse meet include Nick Tammaro, John Lies and Jessica Paquette.

Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse Racing Post Times

Racing will take place Thursday at 4:00 pm, Friday and Saturday at 6:45 pm (Central) with special post times of 1:05 pm for Kentucky Derby Day on Saturday, May 1; the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 15 and the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5. The 23-day meet continues through Saturday, June 12.

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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.