HOUSTON, TX – Racing enthusiasts of all ages enjoyed an afternoon at Sam Houston Race Park culminating with a victory by Journalism in the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, simulcast from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland!   Many attendees enjoyed the air-conditioned comfort of the grandstand, but the crowds were plentiful enjoying the action trackside on a sunny day with temperatures reaching 91 degrees.Apollitical Ike Topped Nine Rivals in the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) HOUSTON, TX -Sam Houston Race Park hosted a very exciting edition of the Sam Houston Classic(G2) with Edgar A. Moreno’s Apollitical Ike showing brilliance at the “classic” Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards! The 4-year-old son of Apollitical Blood  won the 2024 Evangeline Derby and exits a third-place finish in the Bob Moore Memorial Stakes(G2) on April 24 at Remington Park before heading to Sam Houston Race Park. Breaking from post position two under H. Javier Hernandez, went to the lead and was able to hold off a solid bid from Tha Duke, winning in a final time of :21.96 seconds, by a neck. “He stumbled a bit, but got clear and got it done,” said Hernandez. Trainer Victor Oviedo was confident that Apollitical Ike (would deliver a good performance. “He matured a lot last year,” he explained . “As a 4-year-old, he became a racehorse!” The victory was the 7th from 17 starts for the bay gelding out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Eye This Candy was bred in Texas by Mike and Leslie Turner.  With today’s victory, his earnings stand at $156.547.Tha Duke, bred and owned by Ashton Elder and Miguel Romero, Jr., made the most out of  his Sam Houston Race Park debut, finishing second under rider Noe Castaneda. The son of  Rc Me Leaving You won the 2022 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity in a dead heat with San Lorenzo Jet, one of nine previous victories in 18. Leonel Hernandez trains the 5-year-old who upped his bankroll to $506,548. Pete Scarmardo’s homebred Hes A Jet One, who ran fourth in last year’s edition of the Sam Houston Classic, completed the trifecta. Ali Rivera had the call aboard the son of Ec Jet One, who qualified for both the All American Derby as well as the Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park. PK Pure Rogue, Believe in Perry, Ontherocks, Leavinematthebar,  Gbh Fiscal Toni, Dm Moonpie and Tyger King completed the order of finish.  Since its first running in 1994, the Sam Houston Classic boasts a stellar list of champions including Streakin Sin Tacha, The Louisiana Cartel and Kool Kue Baby (1995 and 1996) as well as AQHA world champions Tailor Fit and Jessies First Down. 371m6a

Fast Closing Ra Coronado Takes the $53,500 Leon Bard Memorial
Rigobero Aguilar’s homebred Ra Coronado was a convincing winner in the $53,500 Leon Bard Memorial off an allowance victory on December 20 at Evangeline Downs The son of Coronado Cartel by Highclass Maiden broke well and drew off  for his first stakes victory. Nestor Duran was in the saddle and crossed the finish line of the 350-yard feature in :17.73 over a fast track. Trainer Carlos Fierro was not surprised at the performance of the sorrel gelding.

“We have always known he had heart, but very exciting to see a horse from our own farm win this stakes,” said Fierro.

Ima Chili finished a neck behind under Oscar Andrade, Jr, followed by Dm Chasing Money and Hes Jess Apollitical.

This marked the third year that Sam Houston Race Park honored Bard, who ed away in 2022 and was inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame last year. His daughters Shelly Burnett and Caryl Merchant were on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

Embers Time Tops Seven Fillies in the $53,500 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes 
The $50,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes is named in honor of Texas horseman John Buchanan, who ed away in 2020. The resident of Peaster, Texas, was a “hands on” trainer who took extraordinary care of his horses throughout a career that spanned over 30 years. He was prominent in each of the Texas racetracks with major stakes wins at Sam Houston Race Park from Pivotal Decision, Gone Celebrating and the diminutive filly, No Fees. Buchanan gained national recognition winning the 1987 All American Futurity (G) with Elans Special, and with Brimmerton who won the Rainbow Derby and All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs. 

Javier Lujan’s Embers Time ($8.80), who broke her maiden here last April, delivered a solid performance under Rodrigo Vallejo, covering 350 yards in :17.811 seconds. Jess Louisiana Girl mounted a bid from the far outside to finish second. Favorite Seis Chilitos was bumped and ran third.

Bred by Alejandro Moya, Embers Time is sired by Pyc Prize Time and trained by Martin Rodriguez.

John Buchanan’s wife, Iris, daughter Amanda and granddaughter Brix, presented  the trophy.

Dominant Score by The Grand Legend in the $37,774 Q-Video Distance Challenge
Highly accomplished distance champion The Grand Legend did not disappoint as the prohibitive favorite in the $37,774 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge. Bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LlC, the 9-year-old son of FDD Going Grand ($2.60) made his 42nd career start and continued his legacy “running the hook.”

Regular pilot Noe Villatoro was chill in the saddle, guiding The Grand Legend from post position four, dueling with  Gjr Rooster to the first turn, before taking control. Once clear, he drew off to a six length lead. His final time, over the fast main track was a swift :45.27 seconds. Gjr Rooster held for second under jockey Ali Rivera, followed by Dazzlin Drama.

Owner James C. Whitener, and his wife, Linda were on hand to watch their stellar distance champion win his 17th  career race and increase his career earnings to a respectable $431,267. He gave credit to trainer Adan Guzman who made the recommendation to stretch the gelding out two years ago after noting that he always finished strongly in his 350 and 400 yard races. When he won his 870 debut by a margin of 9 lengths in 2023, Whitener knew they had a very special horse!

“This  horse has been a blessing for us,’ stated Whitener. “He is a champion all the way through!”

One more start at Sam Houston Race Park on June 14 is a possibility and then The Grand Legend will run  at Lone Star Park before heading to the Downs at Albuquerque on October 21 for the Q-Video Distance Challenge Championship. 

Jessesflyincowgirl Would Not be Denied in  the $65,450 Adequan Derby Challenge
It was clear from the three trials run at Sam Houston Race Park on April 25 that the final for the $65,450 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship would be tough for each of the 3-year-old in the 400-yard stakes .

The second-fastest qualifier Jessesflyincowgirl was more than up for the challenge, digging in over Party On The Moon in a time of : 20.378 seconds. Christian Ramos rode the filly by Flying Cowboy to victory for trainer Marc Jungers. Jose Luis Gonzalez owns the Oklahoma-bred , who was making her fifth career start and winning for the third time. 

“I felt we had the best horse, trainer and jockey in the race,” said Gonzalez following the race.

Jungers indicated Jessesflyincowgirl will head to Ruidoso Downs for their live racing season before making plans for the Adequan Derby Challenge final in October.


Fastest Qualifier Full Moon Desire Scores in  the $121,082 John Deere Juvenile Challenge (G3)
Trials were contested for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge (G3) on March 26 with Leviram Racing LLC’s Full Moon Desire setting the fastest qualifying time in seven heats. The filly by Chilitos crossed the wire of the 350-yard trial in :17.821 seconds with Sam  Houston Race Park leading rider Victor Urieta, Jr. in the saddle.

 The 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate was purchased for $11,000, was even more impressive in the final, crossing the wire of the final in :17.762 seconds.

Trained by Dimas Sanchez, the filly by Chilitos is owned by Leviram Racing LLC. 

“We raised her and own the mare (Mystical Desire),” said co-owner Josio Lozano. “We are very proud of her!”

The Texas Hammer was second followed by Vp Dash for Texas and Chieftainess.

Full Moon Desire ($2.60)  has earned a berth to the  John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship at the Downs of Albuquerque in October.

About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining and features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to live racing, concerts and events, please visit shrp.casinowinning.net or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.

Photos:  Jack Coady Photography