Top Shelve, ridden by Nestor Duran, remained unbeaten Saturday night with a neck victory in the Grade 3 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–May 9, 2026— Top Shelve remained undefeated Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park, surging to a neck victory under jockey Nestor Duran in the Grade 3 $104,704 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile at 350 yards.

The gray filly stopped the clock in :17.894 over a muddy sealed racetrack while earning an 87 speed index. After breaking sharply and engaging early, Top Shelve edged clear late to hold off Denhawken at the wire.

Bred by Jude and Regina Robicheaux, Top Shelve is owned by David L. Martinez and trained by Ramiro Barajas Villarreal. The $11,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate is sired by champion Tarzanito and out of the winning Sir Runaway Dash mare TF Dashin Ms Perry.

The winning connections of Top Shelve accept the $104,704 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile trophy at Sam Houston on Saturday. © Jack Coady Photography

The filly boasts an accomplished female family. TF Dashin Ms Perry is a half-sister to stakes winners TF Im That Guy ($698,144) and Not Perry Pretty ($219,918), while Top Shelve herself is a half-sister to stakes-placed Smoky Ice ($131,658). Second dam TF Ms Special Perry earned $116,625 on the racetrack, and the family traces back to champion Deelish ($603,673) and AQHA Dam of Distinction Fearless Freda ($262,121).

With the victory, Top Shelve improved to a perfect two-for-two while the $48,773 winner’s share of the purse boosted her earnings to $54,773.

Owner David Martinez praised the entire team following the victory.

“We felt confident, she’s been really good since we started working her,” Martinez said. “This is the third challenge we’ve won. We are so blessed with our jockey Nestor, trainer Ramiro and all the people who have backed us.”

Jockey Nestor Duran credited the filly for overcoming trouble leaving the gate.

“The five horse bumped me a little bit when we broke but after 100 yards, she just took off,” Duran said. “That’s all we wanted from here, was to break a little better than she did in the trials and she got it done.”

Denhawken finished second under Ruben Delarosa Jr., missing by just a neck after battling throughout for owner John Obregon and trainer Ramiro Villarreal. The gelding covered the distance in :17.952 and earned an 85 speed index.

The gelding is a $7,500 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate sired by This Is An Eagle and out of the winning Captain Courage mare Ms Annas Courage. His pedigree traces back to stakes winner Fast First Prize ($244,929), who is out of AQHA Dam of Distinction and Broodmare of the Year First Prize Dash.

Saturday’s effort marked just the second career start for Denhawken.

Fastest qualifier Jeg Fascination B finished another neck back in third under Noe Castaneda for owner-breeder Jesus Eden Garza and trainer Jose Lopez. The filly stopped the timer in :17.964 with an 85 speed index.

The daughter of world champion sire Freighttrain B is out of the stakes-placed Mr Jess Perry mare JA Fascination, a full sister to stakes winner JA Jess Perfect ($52,435).

Jeg Fascination B is also a half-sister to stakes-placed runner JEG Moons Fascination and comes from a female family that includes stakes winners Dashmetothemoon ($37,408), Moon Em N Dash ($58,879), and Cayenneoverthemoon ($175,899).

Following the effort, Jeg Fascination B now owns a record of 4-2-0-1 with earnings of $22,003.

Bigg Mistake finished fourth and was followed by Tell Fire, Valiant Magic Mike, Blazin On Monday, and Trumps Train. Mr Mallard Hocks was scratched.

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