Preview Racing


Stakes Doubleheader Opens Retama Park-at-Sam Houston Meet
Tempting Knockout is the early favorite for Wednesday’s 330-yard, $50,000 La Villita Stakes (R) for Texas-bred sophomore fillies at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Coady Photography
Stakes Doubleheader Opens Retama Park-at-Sam Houston Meet

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

HOUSTON, TX—JUNE 19, 2021—Tempting Knockout, a homebred daughter of champion Tempting Dash owned by P & J Racing Ltd., is the early favorite for Wednesday’s 330-yard, $50,000 La Villita Stakes (R) for Texas-bred sophomore fillies at Sam Houston Race Park.

Tempting Knockout will be shortening in distance off of her half-length victory in the May 28, 350-yard John Buchanan Memorial Stakes (R) at Sam Houston Race Park. The filly drew post 2 and will be ridden by Pedro C. Espinosa for trainer Leon Bard while making her first start at the 330 distance.

Juan Manuel Pastrana’s Greysland is coming off of a third-place finish in the John Buchanan Memorial. A Kiss My Hocks filly trained by Juan Diaz Jr., Greysland has earned $131,272 from nine outs, and her three wins include a half-length score in last year’s 400-yard, $40,000 Dash For Cash Juvenile Stakes at Lone Star Park.

Greysland drew post 3 and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr.

Also on Wednesday, opening night of the 20-date Retama Park-at-Sam Houston meet, seven Texas-bred 3-year-olds are entered in the 330-yard, $50,000 Friendship Stakes (R).

Pete Scarmardo’s Dash N Leader, a homebred son of the First Down Dash stallion Down N Dash and a finalist in last year’s 400-yard, $1.031-million Texas Classic Futurity (G1), drew post 7 and will be ridden by Pedro C. Espinosa for trainer Leon Bard. Dash N Leader has won three of nine starts and has banked $81,006 while racing in Texas and New Mexico.

All Sam Houston Race Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.