HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 9, 2011—Jess Tee Off and Evans Express, a pair of two-year-olds sired by champion Tres Seis, dueled to wire in the $600,000 Sam Houston Futurity(G2) Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

Evans Express got the jump from the gate as Jess Tee Off recovered from a slight bump before taking the lead mid stretch. He held on by a neck under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, while completing the 330 yards in :16.792 seconds into a 20 mph head wind.

Owned by L.B. Ranch, LLC, the son of Tres Seis became the leading earning two-year-old of 2011 with the winner's purse of $240,000 pushing his career total to $241,800.

Trainer Judd Kearl saddled him to his second victory in as many starts this season. The brown gelding came into the grade 2 event off a 1-½ length trail victory on March 25th, where he posted the third fastest qualifying time.

Ben Garza represented the owners in the winner’s circle to accept the trophy.

“This was very exciting,” said Garza. “Last year we looked at the All American Sale book and some friends and I bought him for LB Farms. They are going crazy down in Edinburg, Texas.”

Garza divulged that the group spent $11,000 at the sale. Their eye for a champion was rewarded handsomely as he picked up a check for $240,000 the grade 2 victory.

“I thought he’d run big tonight,” said Kearl. “He was the only horse to qualify after the tenth trial. Rodrigo opted to ride him. The filly (Skyy High Perry) got into a little trouble tonight or I think she would have been right there with him.”

Bred by Marcus Smith and Charlie & Dixie Patterson, from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Linda Tee. His second dam is the grade 1 winner Linda Te Chick, a multiple stakes producing daughter of Chicks Beduino.

Jess Tee Off ($16.40) is paid into the Texas Classic, but Kearl indicated that he would look for another spot for him before the Lone Star meet.

It was a good night for mares with their first starters, as Evans Express picked up $96,000 for owners Arturo Morales and Erasmo Espino. Bred by Mary and Jack Evans, the Tres Seis filly is the first foal out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Delightful Evan.

Saddled by Arturo Morales and ridden by Santos Carrizales, Evans Express was an impressive 2-¼ length winner in the March 25th trails, also her first start.

Storm Winds, a filly by last seasons leading first crop sire PYC Paint Your Wagon, finished ¾'s off the leaders for the show. Racing for Richard McGehee, Storm Winds earned $66,000 for her effort.

Jarrod Deschamp was aboard the Joe Kirk Fulton-bred out of the Special Effort mare Miss Wide Open. The Glen Atkins trainee suffered her first loss, after posting a ¾ length trial victory two week ago.

Completing the field were Sky High Perry, Stone Cole Runner, Special Royal Corona, Rc Straight Runaway, Hiclass Gas, Bovet and Babe At The Bar.

Stones Puede Cruises in Sam Houston Derby

Picking up his first win of the year, Stones Puede cruised to a half-length victory in the $152,800 Sam Houston Derby(G2) Saturday evening for owner's E. Galindo and E.M. Gonzalez. The Sc Chiseled In Stone 3-year-old bounced back after finishing second to fastest qualifier Texas Icon in the March 26th trials, his first start of the season.

Yasmine Medina-Fierro trains the gelding that covered the 350 yards in :17.844 seconds under jockey Luis Vivanco. He earned $61,120 to push his career mark to more than $90,000. It was the fifth career win for last year's Dash For Cash Juvenile winner, bred by Grupo San Antonio from the Streakin La Jolla mare Puede Streak.

“We had a lot of faith in him,” said Medina-Fierro. “We were a little concerned with the inside post, but he did a great job. He did shine tonight.”

Oscar Lozano's Royal Invasor rallied for second to earn $24,448. The Royal Quick Dash colt was ridden by Julian Cantu and trained by Jonathan Castaneda. A home-bred for Lozano, Royal Invasor is out of the Heza Fast Man mare One Fast Kisser.

Cooleo was nose back to finish for third for owner Jamie Flores. Judd Kearl trains the First Down Dash colt out of Cool Eleanor by Toast To Dash. Bred in Louisiana by Gini Crawford, Cooleo picked up $16,808 for his effort.

Fastest qualifier Texas Icon dead-heated for fourth with Texas Kool. Completing the field were Jess Scared Money, Jessica Lane, Hollywood Sixes Bigtime Cat and Fast Dashin Dude.

Massima Drives to Victory in Sam Houston Juvenile

Massima, a home-bred racing for owner/trainer Jorge Haddad, broke on top and drove to a ¾ length win the $30,000 Sam Houston Juvenile, the sixth race on Sam Houston's Saturday night card.

Ridden by AQHA Racing champion jockey Jacky Martin, the Tres Seis filly completed her task in :17.058 seconds into a 20 mph headwind to keep her record perfect at two-for-two.

“Jorge told me she usually runs straight and she ran a super good race,” said the 56-year-old. “She stood in the gates perfectly and just did everything like a horse is supposed to.”

“This filly has always been good,” said Haddad. “I was hoping she would qualify for the Sam Houston Futurity, but she needed a race. Jacky is amazing rider and can make a difference.”

Out of the First Down Dash mare Kitty First, Massima won her first start, the March 25th trials, by a half-length. The $18,000 winner's purse moved her earnings mark to just under $20,000.

First-crop sire Hiclass Lajolla got his first stakes-placed runner after Hiclass Heat dead-heated with Silver For Me for the place position.

Trainer Leon Bard saddled the pair of two-year-olds who each picked up $4,650.

Racing for T.C. Flack, Hiclass Lajolla was ridden by Jose Vega. Bred by Robert and Karen Nunnally from the Merganser mare Class In Excess, Hiclass Heat came into the Juvenile off a March 25th trial victory.

Racing for G.W. Hartstack and B and B Electric, Silver For Me is now 0-2-0 in his first two starts. Chrissema Horses, LLC, bred the Corona For Me gelding out of Silver Poupon by Streakin Six.

Completing the field were Hero Of The Knight, Acorn In The Grove, I B Zooming, Im A Lil Witch, Streakin Xpress, Jess Fly With Me and Volare Valentina.

The 2011 American Quarter Horse continues through Sunday, May 15th with races every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For the full calendar of Sam Houston Race Park ’s 2011 live race dates, visit www.shrp.com.

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 19 luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Champion Energy Services Jockey Club. Sam Houston Race Park Platinum Partners include Bud Light, Verizon Wireless and Champion Energy Services. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.