Sam Houston wraps up another weekend of racing action
Another weekend of racing has wrapped up at Sam Houston Race Park.
The action began Friday with the Texas Yellow Rose Stakes for Arabian fillies and mares four and five years old. The winner was a surprise as RS Jewel Crown pulled off the upset over RB Blair Hope and TM Purncess.
The second stakes race for the Arabians, the Texas Six Shooter Stakes for horses four and five years old, was taken by Diamond Gem AA. RB Money Maker finished second, and WMA Country Star came in third.
The first major race for thoroughbreds came in the fourth, a maiden special weight written for three-year-olds sprinting six and a half furlongs on the dirt. In the field of seven maidens, Cajun Eddie crossed the line first and was able to graduate. He is trained by Karen Jacks and was ridden by Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez. Campton came in second, with Fabled Ruler earning third.
The sixth race, an allowance optional claimer for older fillies and mares over six furlongs on the dirt, was won by Rollin Chrome, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. Weston Hamilton was the winning rider while Alejandro Baldillez trained. Second place went to Redefinition, while Summer Lightning finished third.
In the eighth race, the action turned to the turf for an allowance optional claiming race for horses four years old and up over a mile. Ronnie Cravens trainee Cairo Warrior came from just off the pace to win by a neck over Seductive U S A. Entertainment rounded out the top three. Valdez-Jiminez got another win as the jockey.
Saturday’s action began with a six-furlong allowance sprint on the dirt for older fillies and mares. Learning to Win lived up to her name, stalking the pace from the inside and using a great trip to her advantage. The daughter of Munnings was ridden by Jose Alvarez and is trained by Bret Calhoun.
Race three on Saturday was a maiden special weight race for Texas-accredited horses four and five years old covering a mile on the turf. Witt America gave jockey Weston Hamilton another win after grabbing an early lead and holding off rivals down the stretch. Sarah Davidson is the winning trainer.
The fourth race of the day was an allowance race written for older horses covering six furlongs on the dirt. The Calhoun/Alvarez duo reached the winner’s circle for the second time on the day with Union Data, a four-year-old gelded son of Midshipman. Concept, a son of renowned stallion Gun Runner finished second.
The last race of the day, a maiden special weight over a mile on the turf for older Texas-accredited fillies and mares. Weston Hamilton secured another win in the saddle after bringing Tranquility from off the pace to win by a neck over Moro Nala. Tina Hurley was the winning trainer.
Sunday’s race card featured three maiden special weight races and one allowance race with purses of at least $35,000.
The first race, a five-furlong sprint on the dirt for three-year-old horses looking for their first victory, was taken by Bohemian Bo. The winning trainer was Austin Gustafson, and the winning rider was Freddy Jose Marrique. Another Journey will need another attempt to get his first win but did finish second here, while Awesome Outlaw came in third.
The fourth race was another maiden special weight affair limited to Texas-accredited three-year-old fillies. Reason Over Riches overcame a slow start to rally, surge outside, and draw away for the win. Flat Out Freda and Julie’s Passion rounded out the top three.
The last maiden special weight race of the day was restricted to Texas accredited to three-year-olds traveling a mile on the dirt. Bret Calhoun struck again as the winning trainer of Noise Complaint, a son of Palace Malice. Jockey Jose Alvarez defeated My Boy Bling and Tiz Bodhi Boy.
The last race of the weekend at Sam Houston was an allowance race over a mile on the turf once again written for Texas-accredited fillies and mares four years old and up. Moro Lingerie was able to win after swinging to the outside on the far turn and drawing away from the field. The winning trainer was Steve Williams, and the rider was Charlie Oliveros.
Racing will resume at Sam Houston next Friday, first post will be 1 p.m.
