Whoopie Cowgirl headlines the inaugural Texas Bred Futurity trials on Friday at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Ann Switalski Photography

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

HOUSTON, TX–April 11, 2026—On Friday, April 17th, 149 Texas-Bred juveniles will compete across 15 trial heats at Sam Houston Race Park, with first post at 5:00 PM. Each 330-yard dash carries significant weight, as the fastest ten qualifiers from the evening will return for the May 9th final of the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity, making every stride critical for these two-year-olds looking to establish themselves early in their careers.

Trainer Marc E. Jungers will be heavily represented throughout the program, sending out thirteen entrants on the night, a clear sign of barn depth and intent. Among them, Coronas First Cowboy stands out as a proven winner heading into the trials. The colt captured his maiden victory on March 7th in an Oklahoma Futurity trial, prevailing in a tightly contested four-way photo finish that showcased both determination and finishing ability. Racing for owner Antonio Mercado, who purchased him for $62,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, Coronas First Cowboy brings both form and foundation into the fourth trial heat.

Sired by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of Coronas First Diva by Corona Cartel, the Texas-bred was bred by Paragon Farms, LLC. With Christian Ramos named to ride, he enters as one of the more reliable contenders to post a qualifying time from a barn that has strategically placed its runners throughout the card.

Another key contender appears in the ninth trial heat with Apollitical Cowboy, a colt who has already proven his ability to compete at a high level. A qualifier to the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity, his most recent effort resulted in a fifth-place finish after a troubled start, noted as fractious in the gates and one-paced throughout. Despite that showing, his earlier trial performance demonstrated clear superiority, earning his spot in the final and signaling the type of talent capable of rebounding in this setting.

Also sired by Flying Cowboy 123, Apollitical Cowboy is out of Too Kool to Return by High Rate of Return. Bred in Texas by JP Quarter Horses, he was purchased for $50,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale by Luis Armando Castellanos and Alfonso Rangel. Conditioned by Santiago Villaseca, he will break from post three under jockey Victor M. Urieta, Jr., with expectations of a much sharper effort in the trials.

The spotlight, however, shifts firmly to the twelfth trial heat, where standout filly Whoopie Cowgirl is set to compete. Already one of the most accomplished juveniles in the field, she turned heads with a dominant schooling race performance at Retama Park before shipping to Louisiana Downs, where she posted the fastest qualifying time and returned to capture the Grade 2 $313,000 Louisiana Downs Futurity in decisive fashion. Entering the trials with earnings of $143,854 from just two starts, she brings both speed and proven class into a field still largely searching for identity.

Sired by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of Tacarosie by Tac It Like a Man, Whoopie Cowgirl was bred in Texas by Mark E. Rigby, DVM. She races for owner Denis I. Moran, who secured her for $35,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villareal will saddle the filly from post four, with regular rider Jorge J. Garcia aboard as she looks to secure her place back in the final.

With a deep and competitive group assembled, the trials promise a blend of proven stakes performers and emerging young talent. The format leaves little room for error, as only the ten fastest times will advance, regardless of heat placement, placing an emphasis on speed, break, and execution.

In addition to the lucrative purse, a $20,000 Nominators Award will be distributed among the top four finishers in the final, with $10,000 awarded to first, $5,000 to second, $3,000 to third, and $2,000 to fourth, adding further incentive for connections as they chase both prestige and reward.

By the end of the night, the picture for the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity final will begin to take shape, with the fastest juveniles separating themselves from the pack in what promises to be one of the most competitive trial nights of the meet.

The races at Sam Houston can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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