Sam Houston Race Park weekend recap
The end of the weekend wraps up another exciting installment of live thoroughbred racing at Sam Houston Race Park.
Friday’s card featured four big purse events and two stakes races for Arabians. Josh’s Dream squeaked out a victory by a neck over WIll the Thrill in the third, an allowance sprint over five and a half furlongs for Texas-accredited three year olds on the dirt. Iran Diego was the winning jockey, with Alan Love picking up the win as the trainer. Village Way rounded out the top three in third.
In the fifth race, a maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies traveling one mile over the dirt,
Dashyn’s Dream stalked the pace before taking command before the turn and pulling away from there. Gerardo Mora rode and Jayde Gelmer was the winning trainer. Lo Profile was able to secure second, and Oil N Candy took third.
In the very next race Texas accredited maidens battled over seven furlongs on the dirt. My Boy Bling battled Hard Gold in a contentious stretch duel before prevailing at the wire by a neck. Farm Dog finished third behind those two. The winning share of the purse went to Freddy Marrique as the rider and Alejandro Baldillez who trained.
In the third consecutive race worth at least $35,000, Kokokomo took command and was much the best, winning by open lengths over Newport Beach in second and Celerity, who finished third. This race was an allowance optional claimer for three year olds and up, covering a mile and a sixteenth on the dirt. After this performance, Kokokomo will be one to watch.
In the Darley Sprint Stakes, older Arabian horses sprinted seven furlongs on the dirt for a share of the $43,000 purse. The victory went to Quick Sand AA, with Diamond Gem AA finishing second and Like Moulin Rouge in third. The winning rider was Rudolfo Guerra, and Jerenesto Torrez trained.
Friday’s nightcap, the Darley Distaff Stakes, saw Arabian fillies and mares take the track under the same conditions as the previous race. RS Jewel Crown proved the best in this one, with RB Blair Hope in second and ™ Purncess third. Jose Alvarez rode the winner with Nicole Ruggeri training.
Saturday’s action began with back-to-back races featuring large purses of $35,000 and $36,000. In the first race, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs on the dirt, Senseofexcellence proved much the best as she was able to graduate with the win over Lil Miss Sunshine in second and Gather the Facts in third.
In race two, an allowance optional claimer for three-year-old fillies over a mile on the dirt, Appropriate Funds took command on the far turn and held on to win comfortably over Taylor’s Tap and Lucky Deputy. Iran Diego picked up another win in the saddle, and Jaylan Clary was the winning trainer.
Moving to the sixth race, we find our next big purse in a maiden special weight for three-year-olds traveling a mile on the turf. Tapadine was able to swing wide on the turn and go up just in time to nail Dawson City by a nose at the wire for Stewart Elliot and Steve Asmussen as the jockey and trainer combo. Bougie Joe finished third.
Saturday’s final race was an allowance five-furlong sprint on the turf for fillies and mares three years old and up. Outlining was able to get up and pass Sweet Adeline in the final yards for the win. Elliot and Asmussen strike again, picking up back-to-back wins as jockey and trainer. Stan’s Golden Path finished third.
Three races on Sunday’s card met the big purse standard, beginning in the fifth, an allowance five-furlong sprint on the turf for horses three years old and up. Hooves Your Daddy led the way from start to finish, holding off Brucelea and Mister Chairman, who took the minor awards. Floyd Whethey rode the winner, Scott Young was the trainer.
In the seventh race, Texas-accredited fillies and mares sprinted five and a half furlongs under allowance conditions on the dirt. Reclusive overcame a sluggish start and had enough speed to overhaul the leaders just in time. Diamonds N Aces was second, with Missiszippy Bling finishing third.
The last race of the weekend was a maiden special weight for Texas-accredited horses at least three years old over a mile on the turf course. Crazy Ridge set a comfortable pace from the front and proved too much for the others. Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez was the winning jockey, while Ronald Kolara was the winning conditioner. Bay Be Gone was good enough for second, while Texas Clubman took third.
Next weekend Sam Houston Race Park will host Texas Champions Day, with Saturday’s card featuring seven stakes races and purses amounting to well over $700,000. The best Texas-bred horses will be on display, and the rich purse money will surely attract many other strong entries from across the United States.
