Sam Houston Race Park weekend preview

This weekend live racing will resume at Sam Houston Race Park. 

Friday’s nine-race card will kick off with two stakes races for Arabians and then will be followed by races that will include a $35,000 maiden special weight and two optional claiming races with purses of $37,000. 

In race one, the Texas Yellow Rose Stakes Arabian fillies and mares four and five years old will contest seven furlongs on the dirt for a purse of $30,000. RB Madeline Kate looks like the favorite, but RB Munchie and RB Blair Hope should also be strong contenders.

The Texas Six Shooter Stakes will follow in race two. This race, written for four and five-year-old Arabian horses, is also over seven furlongs on the dirt and carries an identical purse. Diamond Gem AA and RB Money Maker look like the strongest candidates here.

Thoroughbred maidens will take center stage in race four. This six-and-a-half furlong sprint on the dirt for three-year-olds looks to be headlined by Free Maker, ridden by Lane Luzzi. Campton and I am Grudd should also factor in the finish.

Race six is the first of the optional claimers for the day’s biggest money. This six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares should be taken by Rollin Chrome, barring a surprising upset.

We turn to the turf for the eighth race of the day. Horses four years old and up will travel a mile with Don’task Don’ttell looking like the strongest entrant. Peacock Kitten and Seductive USA are viable alternatives.

Saturday’s race card will feature nine races highlighted by two maiden special weight affairs, both carrying $35,000 in purses.  

The third race of the day, covering one mile on the turf course, will be the first of these big purse races.  This race is limited to Texas-accredited horses seeking their first win, and it looks like a very balanced field. Bulls in the Bronx might be the strongest contender, but there are plenty of others with a strong chance.

The last race of the day is almost identical to the third, except it is written for maiden fillies and mares. In this one, Run Witt Run looks to have the strongest chance, but Moro Nala and Pharme’s Phinale are also solid choices.

Sunday’s card will cut down to eight races, but it is loaded with three maiden special weight contests and an allowance, all carrying a purse of at least $35,000.

The first race of the day is a maiden special weight written for three-year-olds sprinting five furlongs on the dirt. Kentucky Ice will be ridden by Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez and is trained by Ronnie Cravens looks like a strong choice, with Kell’s Bells and Awesome Outlaw strong alternates.

In the fourth race, Texas-accredited maiden fillies and mares will stretch out to a mile on the dirt. This field looks extremely even on paper, but Reason Over Riches looks strong, with Satin Heart, the J.R. Caldwell trainee looking like a top contender here as well.

The sixth race is restricted to Texas-accredited maidens covering a mile, but this race is on the dirt.  My Boy Bling looks like a strong choice here.

The last race of the day returns the action to the turf as Texas-accredited older mares will travel a mile for the $36,000 purse. Trainer Danny Pish entry Wilburnsclassylady will be a strong contender, but LL Cool Gray and Gee She’s Fancy should be in the mix as well.

This week’s Kentucky Derby qualifying will turn the eyes of the racing world to Oaklawn Park, where Oaks hopefuls will face off in the Honeybee Stakes (G3), and the colts on the Derby trail will contest the Rebel Stakes (G3).  

A strong contender in the Honeybee is Wet Paint, a daughter of standout stallion Blame, trained by Brad Cox and will be ridden by Flavien Prat. However, there are several other strong contenders, such as Effortlesslyelegant, Steve Asmussen trainee Grand Love, and Defining Purpose.

In the Rebel Stakes, a horse to watch is Reincarnate. This son of Good Magic is out of a Scat Daddy mare and has been transferred from Bob Baffert’s barn to the care of Tim Yakteen. Reincarnate recently won the Sham Stakes with a performance that has lifted him to the top of many lists of Derby contenders, but he will have to contend with Verifying, a son of Triple Crown winner Justify.

Sam Houston Horses to Watch:

Friday – Race 5 – Sprele – A son of Speightster, this horse in four of his last six starts.

Saturday – Race 4 – Concept – This horse is by Gun Runner.

Sunday – Race 4 – Satin Heart – A daughter of Bradester and out of a My Golden Song mare, she will be ridden by Lane Luzzi and trained by J. R. Caldwell.