Coronas First Cowboy and jockey Luis Vivanco post the fastest qualifying time for the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity on May 23 at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 23 2026–Ten trial heats were contested Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park to determine the finalists for the Grade 2, $655,100 Sam Houston Futurity, with the ten fastest qualifiers advancing to the June 13 final.

Coronas First Cowboy posted the fastest qualifying time of the evening after winning the second trial in a hard-fought duel with fellow qualifier Bad Boy 123. The colt covered 350 yards in :17.575 seconds over a sloppy sealed surface while earning a 96 speed index.

Bred by Paragon Farms LLC, owned by Antonio Mercado, trained by Marc Jungers, and ridden by Luis Vivanco, the colt is a $62,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate. The son of champion Flying Cowboy 123 is out of champion and stakes winner Coronas First Diva ($496,377), a daughter of Corona Cartel. His second dam is two-time champion Spit Curl Diva ($829,353), giving the juvenile one of the strongest female families in the futurity division.

Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Texas Breeders Futurity, Coronas First Cowboy improved his record to 4-3-0-0 with earnings of $39,490 following Saturday’s victory.

Second-fastest qualifier Bad Boy 123 also emerged from the second trial after finishing just a head behind the top qualifier in :17.586 seconds while matching the 96 speed index. The colt was bred by Kylee Habeck, owned by Reynaldo Munoz, trained by Bobby Muniz Pena, and ridden by Nestor Duran.

A $72,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate, Bad Boy 123 is another son of champion Flying Cowboy 123 and is out of the stakes-winning Tres Seis mare Three Past Six ($160,040). The effort came in only his second career start and stamped him as a serious contender heading into the June 13 final.

Third-fastest qualifier DK Bonita Jess continued her strong sophomore campaign by winning the eighth trial in :17.652 with a 94 speed index. The stakes-placed filly previously finished second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity and now owns a record of 3-2-1-0 with earnings of $62,211.

Bred by Cuadra La Presita, owned by CH Horse Racing LLC, trained by Miguel Pizana, and ridden by Nestor Duran, DK Bonita Jess is a $120,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate. The filly is sired by world champion and leading sire Apollitical Jess ($1,399,831) and out of the stakes-winning Corona Cartel mare Marney Jo ($71,277 in Mexico), a full sister to champion KVN Corona ($868,077). She is also a full sister to graded stakes winner DK Marney Jess ($590,704), further strengthening her elite pedigree.

Full qualifier list can be found HERE.

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