Onthrocks, ridden by Luis Vivanco, wins the Sam Houston 550 for the second time in his career on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 14, 2025–There’s no question anymore—Onthrocks is the undisputed king of 550-yard stakes racing. After finishing a close third in the 2024 running of the Sam Houston 550 Stakes, the black gelding returned to redeem himself, winning the 2025 renewal of the $54,500 race at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night.

The 6-year-old gelding, sired by A Revenant, delivered a commanding performance under jockey Luis Vivanco. He crossed the finish line with a strong half-length lead over his familiar rival, Dm Preacher Man, completing the race in 27.538 seconds on a fast track, with a speed index of 103.

Owned by Sarah Huskey, Onthrocks entered the race as the 4-5 post-time favorite, and for good reason. Although he was coming off a sixth-place finish in the Sam Houston Classic Stakes-G2 in May, his connections knew the return to his preferred distance would play directly into his strengths.

The winning connections of Onthrocks accept the Sam Houston 550 Stakes trophy on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park© Jack Coady Photography

The win marked his first victory of the season from two starts, and more importantly, his second career score in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes, a race he also captured in 2023. With this latest triumph, he brings his record to 8 wins, 4 seconds, and 5 thirds from 25 starts, having hit the board in 17 of those efforts, and pushing his career earnings to $235,446.

The gelding’s reputation as a 550-yard specialist is now firmly cemented, with this latest victory adding to an already impressive collection of distance stakes wins. He has now captured five 550-yard stakes races: two editions of the TQHA 550 Stakes-G3, two victories in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes, and a win in the Tower of the Americas Stakes.

Bred in Texas by Ware Racing & Ranching LLC, Onthrocks is out of Stol A Bunny by Stoli. Trainer Esteban Rubio conditions him.

Dm Preacher Man, ridden by Eliazar Vera, chased gamely to finish second, just as he did in last year’s running of this same stakes. The 6-year-old brown gelding continues to show up in big races and now boasts four stakes placings, with career earnings of $89,767 from 26 starts and a 2-7-5 record.

Trainer Kie Mushinski saddled Dm Preacher Man for owner/breeder Donna Mushinski. Also by A Revenant, the Texas-bred gelding is out of Mary La Jolla by Streakin La Jolla

Lz King Of The Kings, the 8-year-old gelding by Ethics Aside, checked in third under jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr., backing up his earlier-season form as a finalist in the Grade 3 Miss Polly Classic Stakes. The bay gelding improved his record to 6-8-2 from 30 starts and raised his earnings to $96,890.

Trainer Josue Maldonado conditions tLz King Of The Kings for owner Yosbany Zuniga. Pedro Flores bred him in Texas out of Pf Rita by Glimpse Of Greatness,

Rounding out the order of finish were Thrill And Fury, Rock Solid Stones, Leavinematthebar, Jess Rite, Furrbidden, and Zef Lucky Seis.

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