Sam Houston Race Park weekend preview

Live thoroughbred racing action resumes this weekend at Sam Houston Race Park. The weekends’ festivities commence with a full nine-race card on Friday and continue through Sunday.

Friday’s action features four races featuring purses of $35,000 or more and two Arabian Stakes races.

The third race of the day is an allowance five-and-a-half furlong sprint for Texas-accredited horses three years old and up on the dirt. Will the Thrill has drawn inside and looks to be the favorite here, but Village Way is also a live threat and carries the Elliot and Asmussen combo that is always dangerous.

The action moves to the turf in the fifth race, a maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies over a mile. This looks like an evenly matched field, but Oil N Candy is entered by Steve Asmussen and will be ridden by Stewart Elliot. Another strong candidate looks like Tiz a Knockout just to her inside.

In the very next race, we move back to the dirt for another maiden special weight race over seven furlongs for Texas-accredited three-year-olds. This is another evenly matched field, but My Boy Bling and Hard Gold look like the most likely to graduate.

Back to the turf for the seventh race, an allowance optional claimer for horses three years old and up going a mile and a sixteenth. Freedom Factor looks like the favorite here, but Gordon Anthony would have a strong chance, and don’t count out Celerity.

The last two races on Friday’s card are stakes races for Arabian horses. The Darley Sprint Stakes for horses four years old and up will cover seven furlongs on the dirt. Diamond Gem AA should be a heavy favorite, with Quick Sand AA and RB Money Maker looking like the strongest price choices.

In the Darley Distaff Stakes, it is the girls’ turn. Arabian mares four years old and up will contest seven furlongs on the dirt. This field is much more even, with favoritism lying between RS Jewel Crown, RB Blair Hope, and Uptown Lady Arabella.

Saturday’s card is also nine races, with four carrying purses above $35,000.

The action starts in the first race, a maiden special weight for horses three, four, and five years old sprinting six furlongs on the dirt. Here Senseofexcellence looks like the early favorite, but several horses have a real chance to win. Lil Miss Sunshine and Gather the Facts look like strong contenders.

The big purses continue in the second race, an allowance optional claimer for three-year-old fillies over a mile on the dirt. Here Lucky Deputy and Taylor’s Tap look like strong contenders, but Appropriated Funds, a daughter of Arrogate, looks like a contender as well.

In the sixth race, a maiden special weight affair for three-year-olds over a mile on the turf, Bougie Joe looks like a smart choice. He could get a challenge from Nerky Rose. Tapadine, a son of the mighty Tapit, should also play a part.

The ninth race, a five-furlong allowance sprint on the turf, features a favorite in 

Downtown Abby, a son of Speightstown, but Telling Time could be worth a look at a bigger price.

The weekend comes to a close Sunday with an eight-race card and another three races with big purses.

The fifth is an allowance five-furlong sprint on the turf for horses three years old and up. Mister Chairman, son of champion sire Into Mischief, looks like the favorite here, but Brucelea and Jr’s Pacifico are strong contenders as well.

Moving to the seventh race, an allowance five-furlong sprint on the dirt for Texas-accredited fillies and mares three years old and up, we find a favorite in Saltamontes Diva, who is coming off a long layoff. Diamonds N Aces could be a better bargain and has been trending up in her last starts.

The last race of the weekend is a maiden special weight for Texas-accredited horses three, four, and five years old over a mile on the turf. Here Crazy Ridge and Pickingupstrangers look like strong contenders, but the six, Texas Clubman could be a surprise.

Sam Houston Horses to watch

Friday – Race 4 – LL Cool Grey – I mean, hey, you can’t deny the name!

Saturday – Race 9 – Telling Thyme – If this mare can match her best form, she could come in at a nice price.

Sunday – Race – 5 – Jr’s Pacifico – This horse has been hot, a win and two seconds in his last three starts. If he can get past Mister Chairman, he should come at a decent price.