Britts Special Candy (#5), under jockey Nestor Duran, won the $700,000 Sam Houston Futurity on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 14, 2025–In a tightly contested finish under the lights at Sam Houston Race Park, Britts Special Candy surged late to capture the Grade 2 $700,000 Sam Houston Futurity, securing the biggest win of her career.

The Oklahoma-bred filly clocked 17.585 seconds for the 350-yard dash, registering a speed index of 98 over a fast track against a headwind of 5 mph.

Ridden expertly by Nestor Duran, the bay filly dueled from early on, digging in to hold off rivals in the final strides. Trained by Patrick Clemons and owned by Jose Antonio Cano, Britts Special Candy was bred in Oklahoma by H & E Ranch Inc.

The victory awarded the daughter of Jess Good Candy $280,000, bringing her career earnings to $363,247. She had previously finished a game second in the $419,735 Oklahoma Futurity (G2) at Remington Park in March and entered the Sam Houston Futurity with a record of 3 starts: 2 wins and a second.

The winning connections of Britts Special Candy accept San Houston Futurity stakes trophy on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. © Jack Coady Photography

The runner-up, Flawless Grace, broke sharply from the rail and battled gamely throughout but could not reel in the winner, settling for second by a neck. The filly is also trained by Clemons, owned by Rolando Resendez, and ridden by Jorge Garcia. She earned $140,000 for the runner-up finish. With a (4) 2-1-0 record she has banked $161,635.

The daughter of leading first-crop sire Dulce Sin Tacha from the Apollitical Jess mare Heroic Grace is a $30,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate. Kelly Yother Equine LLC is the breeder.

Taking third was race favorite Kas He Tells You, another from the Clemons barn, who loomed large in the early going but faded late to finish a half-length behind the top two. A $21,000 TQHA Yearling Sale repurchase owned by Francisco Javier Garza and Carlos Ponce, he was ridden by Victor Urieta, Jr., he picked up $70,000 for the effort.

Garza bred the son of champion Tell Cartel  in Texas from the Make It Anywhere mare Beaukas. Third in West Texas Juvenile at Sunland Park in April Kas He Tells You has banked 86,840 in four starts.

Pari-mutuel bettors who backed Britts Special Candy were rewarded with $13.60 to win, $7.40 to place, and $4.20 to show. The $1 exacta (5-1) paid $38.30, while the 50-cent trifecta (5-1-3) returned $58.15. The 10-cent superfecta (5-1-3-6) was worth $27.91.

In order of finish behind the top three were Ocho Rojo, A Maverick, West Texas Royalty, Run On Monday, Kas Hes Ec, Cm Heavenly Cowboy, and Tyrannical.

With three finalists in the field, trainer Patrick Clemons showcased the depth of his juvenile roster, sweeping the trifecta in one of Texas racing’s premier 2-year-old events.

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