HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 11, 2015—Ridden by jockey Damian Martinez, fastest qualifier El Chinito Boy returned to Sam Houston Race Park Saturday night to defeat A Vodka Celebrity by three-quarters in the $101,800 Sam Houston Maiden Classic Stakes. Big Time Bigs finished a neck back in the show position.

Making only his second start of the year, the lightly raced El Chinito Boy covered the 350 yards in :17.646 seconds to earn a 94 speed index. Josue Ponce trains the 4-year-old Sss Ace In The Hole gelding for owner Juan Antonio Avila.

“I was expecting a better break, but he just kept trying and came up with the win,” said Martinez. “He jumped the lights, just like he did in the trials, but it all worked out.”

Ponce, 19, has only been training a year, and was thrilled to win the first stakes of his career.

“Since the day we got him last year, we had trouble training him,” said Ponce. “But this season, he’s done much better and I’m just glad we won. It feels great; this is just my second year as a trainer, so I’m pretty happy.”

Bred in Texas by Javier Contreras, from the Willie Wanta Dash mare WIllys Little Filly, El Chinito Boy has a (4) 2-2-0 record and used the $40,720 winner's purse to boost his career total to $49,415. He did not race as a two-year-old.

El Chinito Boy returned $3.40 as the betting favorite.

Still a maiden after 17 career starts, A Vodka Celebrity has been in the money 10 times and picked up $16,288 tonight, nearly doubling his bankroll to more than $27,400. Daniel Luna conditions the son of Vodka Talkin out of Moving With Effort, by Mr Moving Effort. Bred in Texas by Joe Chapa, the 4-year-old gelding is owned by Juan Carlos Prez and was ridden by Jorge Roman.

Also lightly raced, Big Time Bigs made his third career start for owner Rafael Elizonda and trainer Manuel Vega, Jr. The Texas-bred son of Bigtime Favorite entered the race off his maiden victory in the March 27th trials. Cipriano Vidana rode the 3-year-old out of Sweethearts Quicksix, by Sixarun. He picked up $11,198 for the effort.

Potus, Pyc Wagon Shaker, Catcha Breeze, Southern Ms Jess, Jmf Jess Memories, Do Not Tempt Me and Cyclone Vic completed the field.

Upcoming Sam Houston Race Park Major Quarter Horse Stakes

Several major Quarter Horse stakes will be contested over the next two weeks at Sam Houston Race Park.

• Sat., April 18 — $100,000 Bank of America Texas Challenge (G1)
• Sat., April 25—$621,100 Sam Houston Futurity (G2), $203,300 Sam Houston Derby (G3), $50,000 Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes
  

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.