HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 2, 2022–Quarter Horse racing fans are in for a treat on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. The card gets underway at 6:50 pm (Central) with six stakes, highlighted by the $649,710 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). The second graded stake of the evening, the $112,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) as well as the always popular $54,000 Texas Twister at the distance of 110 yards, have attracted full fields.

Competitive Group to Travel 440 Yards in the $112,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2)

A field of ten will compete in the $112,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) which will be run at the "classic" Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards.

Jrs Shiney Tee, owned by Kathy Goodale, has been installed as the 5-2 choice and will break from the nine hole with Ricardo Hernandez, Jr. in the saddle. The 4-year-old gelding by Tee Cos exits a runner-up finish in the $40,000 Open Me a Corona Stakes on April 30 at Delta Downs. He has won four of his 15 previous races for trainer J. Ray Bustamante.

Rogelio Marquez Jr.’s Diane To Be A Hero won the $55,000 Sam Houston Stakes here on May 20 and returns in pursuit of his first 440-yard victory. The 4-year-old son of  One Valiant Hero, qualified for the Firecracker and Delta Derbies at Delta Downs as well as the Evangeline Derby last December at Evangeline Downs. Jesus Marquez trains and Luis Vivanco will guide the Louisiana-bred from post six at odds of 9-2.

"He's been knocking at the door and running lights out, " said Marquez. "The Sam Houston Stakes was his first stakes win, but he had several runner-up efforts."

Da Devil Made Me Do It was a game runner-up  in that feature for trainer Lewis "Tooter" Jordan and  owners Geri J. Partnership. Claudio Aguilar has the return call on the gelded son of Fdd Going Grand.

Several horses who ran in the 2021 edition of this race will return to action, including Raul Rubalcava’s homebred Black Cazador, a 6-year-old son of Oak Tree Special, who won two stakes last year for Saul Ramirez, Jr. and his brother, jockey J. R. Ramirez.

Trained this year by Roberto Madrigal, the Oklahoma-bred gelding will try to rebound from his seventh-place finish on May 20 in the $55,000 Sam Houston Stakes. Rider Ali Rivera, who is currently second in the Sam Houston standings, has the mount

Hh Gailforce will make her second appearance in this race for Egoizzta Partnership, brothers Juan, Joel and Jose Cantu as well as Eric Hinojosa. They purchased the daughter of Freighttrain B out of the First Prize Perry mare Open My Prize, a half-sister to Open Me A Corona, for $12,000 in the 2018 LQHBA Yearling Sale. The lone mare in the Sam Houston Classic is the high earner in the field with $314,121 banked in 19 career efforts.

"She’s taken on the boys plenty of times before," said trainer Joel Cantu, who will also saddle Jlc Payaso Ed in the Sam Houston Futurity. "We wish we could have gotten a prep in her, but she’s been training well, and we like that she drew the rail."

The Sam Houston Classic will run as the eighth race on the card and had its first running in 1994. The winner will join a stellar list of champions, who have achieved success on the racetrack and broodmares and stallions. Past winners include Kool Kue Baby, AQHA world champions Tailor Fit and Jessies First Down, Streakin Sin Tacha and The Louisiana Cartel.

Sheza Freighttrain T Headlines the $54,000 Texas Twister Stakes

The always popular Texas Twister Stakes attracted a field of ten runners "super sprinting" at the distance of 110 yards. The exciting race almost always produces a blanket finish as the field surges to the wire in seven seconds or less.

Sheza Freighttrain T returns to Sam Houston debut for owner Patrick Richardson and trainer Charles Duke Shults. The 4-year-old daughter of Freighttrain B is a six-time stakes winner and Sam Houston fans were able to see the talented mare win the $50,000 Selma Stakes last July.
 

Bryan Candanosa, currently the #1 ranked Quarter Horse jockey in the county, will ride Sheza Freighttrain T from post position eight as the 5-2 choice. Bred in Louisiana, the speedy mare has won 11 of her 18 starts, already earning $474,605.

"If she gets a clean break, she will be right there," said Richardson. "She has a good record of leaving quickly and getting it together in the stretch."

Her rivals include Perry Mouse Tale owned by Ismael Ramirez, who brings a perfect 2 for 2 record at the distance. Trainer Jose Carrizales feels that the 5-year-old Paint Me Perry mare will give a good account of herself.

"She is always on the ball leaving the gate and likes the inside posts," stated Carrizales. "At this distance, it’s anybody’s race!"

Other entrants include Johnny De Capo, a 5-year-old sired by the speedy Capo de Capi, has earned $405,394 for owner Juan Jose Contreras. Luis Vivanco has the call for trainer Raul Rodriguez, Jr. El Tartanero Jess, who will break from post nine under Ali Rivera. The 4-year-old son of Apollitical Jess will make his first 110-yard start for owner Eleazar Martinez, Sr. and trainer Raul Galvan.

The Texas Twister Stakes is carded as race six on the Saturday evening program with an approximate post time of 9:05 pm.

Field Set for the $649,710 Sam Houston Futurity (G2)

As previously announced, Sam Houston Race Park will host the richest race of the annual Quarter Horse season on Saturday, June 4. The Sam Houston Futurity (G2) will run as the ninth race, with an approximate post time of 10:26 pm.

Here is the field, in post-position order, including jockey assignments and odds:

1. Ponte Trucha (Heriberto Aguilar-Orozco), 4-1
2. Jess Sea Louisiana (Ali Rivera) 8-1
3. Rinc (Jose Hebert), 20-1
4. Moonin Deluxe (Bryan Candanosa), 15-1
5. Bye Corona Bye (Victor Urieta, Jr.), 3-1
6. Jmg Apollitical Capo (Luis Vivanco), 7-2
7. Lj Luna Llena (Francisco Calderon), 15-1
8. Pink Kiss (Nestor Duran), 8-1
9. Jls Payaso Ed (Luis Ruiz), 6-1
10. Hotamale (Jorge Garcia), 20-1

Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse Racing Post Times

Racing takes place Thursday at 4:00 pm, Friday and Saturday at 6:50 pm (Central) with a special post of 1:00 pm for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11. The 2022 Quarter Horse meet continues through June 18.

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About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. Owned by Penn National Gaming. Inc., the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions including a Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the racetrack, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming live racing, shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.