Da Devil Made Medoit has four wins in nine career starts, including a pair of allowance wins at Sam Houston, and has only finished out of the exacta once. He earned $83,180 in the Retama Derby win to push his career earnings to $135,448.

Tee Britt and Claudio Aguilar led early and were caught late by the winner but nosed out Ap a Special Takeoff to finish second.

Cody McDaniel trains for owner Ground Shakers Race Team, LLP. The Tee Cos gelding was bred in Louisiana by Lynnette Douget, out of Special Britt, by Jess Special. As a 2-year-old, he competed in the Dash for Cash Futurity (G2) at Lone Star, the Evangeline Downs Futurity and the Louisiana Juvenile Stakes at Delta Downs.

"She was the first one to congratulate me," added Jordan.

But the longtime Texas horseman had a huge gathering of supporters joining him on track for the presentation as Geri Partnership is a group of friends who named the Texas-bred to honor the memory of Jordan’s wife, Geri.

Tee Britt picked up $35,352 in the runner-up effort, making him three for 11 lifetime with $92,967 in earnings.

Third place finisher Ap a Special Takeoff won the second trial as the sixth fastest qualifier. Victor Urieta rode the gelding in the trial and returned for the final for trainer Alonso Neri and owner Red Sea Racing Stables LLC. Abigail Kawananakoa bred the Favorite Cartel gelding in California, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jet Takeoff.

The win in the trial was Ap a Special Takeoff’s first start at Sam Houston. He had made 11 previous starts at Los Alamitos, including the Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1). The third-place purse share of $20,795 pushed his career earnings to $59,413.

Completing the field were Big Eagle Gone, Jess On the Run, One Slick Delight, Cartel Ought to Go, My Apollitical Stone, Paint Me a Stone and Dashing Coronado.