Sam Houston Race Park weekend preview

View from behind of jockeys on horses rounding the corner during horse race.

Sam Houston Race Park weekend preview

This weekend Sam Houston Race Park will once again host live thoroughbred racing.  

The action begins Friday with a nine-race card featuring four races with purses of at least $35,000.

The first race of the weekend is a maiden special weight for Texas-accredited horses four and five years old, sprinting six furlongs on the dirt. Josh’s Dream, a son of Race Day, appears to have a great chance to break his maiden, but Valdina Dreams and John Louis’ Bevo should also be factors.

The action continues with the second race, an allowance optional claimer for older horses covering seven furlongs on the dirt. Appreciated features a jockey/trainer combo that is winning 50% of their starts at the moment and should be the favorite, but Impressed and Sooneman bear watching as well.

Moving to the last two races, the eighth is another maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies sprinting five furlongs on the dirt track. Clay’s Ruby Love and Mischief Angel appear to be the class of this field. Clays’s Ruby Love finished second in her debut on Feb. 10 and could be ready to graduate, while Mischief Angel, a daughter of Geldencents, has the best form of the others with experience.

For the Friday finale, we move to the turf and a one-mile allowance race for Texas-accredited older horses. Canatlan won his last start, but this will be the first time he takes on other winners. Pharme’s Phaith could be a likely alternative.

On Saturday, we pick up the action in the second race, an allowance optional claimer for Texas-accredited three-year-olds covering six furlongs on the dirt. This looks to be a strong field with no fewer than five horses capable of taking the win. Lane Luzzi and J.R. Caldwell combine on the three horse, My Little Prince, and that might be enough to get the victory.

The fourth race is a maiden special weight for older horses looking for their first career win. Gold Prize and Mayan look strong, but Wagon Train is a first-time starter by Pioneer of the Nile, and once more, Luzzi and Caldwell could make this a horse to consider.

The very next race is another allowance optional claimer, this time for three-year-olds covering a mile on the dirt. U.S. Army looks strong, but Mano Dura and Phantom Ride could also play a part.

Moving to the seventh race, we find another maiden special weight for Texas-accredited three-year-old fillies over six furlongs on the dirt. In this one, Philogyny Street has the best chance on paper, but that is not where the race is run.

The last race on Saturday is an allowance for older horses over a mile on the turf. This race is another that appears to be wide-open, with at least four horses that have real chances at victory. Witch’s Vow might have the best shot, but Flash of Genius, Optimal Trip, and Brucelea could also factor in.

Sunday’s card also features four big purse races.

We begin in the fourth, an allowance optional claimer for Texas-accredited three-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs on the dirt. The always dangerous combination of Steve Asmussen and Stewart Eliot enters Fast Track, while My Patriotic Girl and Waving Bye also look strong here.

The sixth race is a maiden special weight written for Texas-accredited three year olds also sprinting six furlongs on the dirt. Texas Clubman finished second in his last start and could be primed for a big race here. Hard Gold is another interesting horse, he is by My Golden Song and out of a Hard Spun mare.

In race seven, we find an allowance race for older horses covering a mile on the dirt. Hern will probably be the favorite here, a son of Gun Runner and ridden by Elliot and trained by Asmussen; this horse is probably the best based on figures. One to keep an eye on is King Congo, coming off a layoff, this horse could cause a stir.

The last race of the weekend is an allowance optional claimer for four-year-olds and up over a mile on the turf. The horse-drawn to the outside, Bizzy Legs, looks like the favorite, but there are several here that are capable of winning. Tatanka is a son of Goldencents, he is coming off of a layoff, and if he can recover his form from last summer, he should be a threat.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings has a new leader this week. In the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, Confidence Game pulled an upset and captured the fifty points awarded to the winner and took over the top spot.  

This week features four stakes races in the U.S. with Derby points up for grabs. The Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita, and the Battaglia Stakes at Turfway will have points up for grabs, but the biggest story of the weekend will be the return of champion two-year-old Forte, in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Last year the son of Violence won three Grade 1 stakes en route to winning an Eclipse Award for Champion two-year-old. Saturday will be the first start of his three-year-old campaign, and observers are anxious to see if he has moved forward from his two-year-old form. No champion two-year-old has won the Derby since Nyquist in 2016, and for Forte to break that streak, he will have to prove that he can improve on last year’s precocious form.

Sam Houston Horses to Watch

Friday – Race 2 – Sonneman – This son of Curlin features the Asmussen/Elliot combination.

Saturday – Race 4 – Wagon Train – A first-time starter by Pioneer of the Nile, ridden by Lane Luzi and trained by J.R. Caldwell.

Sunday – Race 7 – King Congo – If this horse runs his best, he should be in the mix, and he should come at a decent price.

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