Cowboys Gun Z, under jockey Agustin Silva, setting the fastest time on Night 1 of the $1.17 Texas Classic Futurity trials at Lone Star Park Thursday.

© Dustin Orona Photography

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 26, 2023–All American Futurity(G1) winner Cowboys Gun Z set his site on another million dollar race tonight when he rolled to the fastest qualifying time, in the first of two nights of trials, for the $1.17 million Texas Classic Futurity(G1) at Lone Star Park.

The five fastest qualifiers from tonight will join the five fastest, from eight more trials tomorrow night (Friday), in the 400 yard finale to be contested Saturday, November 18th. The winner will walk away with a $523,389 payday.

Ridden by jockey Agustin Silva, Cowboys Gun Z kicked clear earlier while defeating fellow qualifier Especially Goodcandy by one-length in the fifth trial (race 6). The son of leading first-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 recorded the top mark of :19.713 seconds, equaling a 95 speed index over a muddy (sealed) racing surface into a 9 mph headwind.

Trainer Michael Joiner saddled the Oklahoma-Bred gelding to his third consecutive win for owners West Texas Racing Partners. Running C Ranch LLC bred Cowboys Gun Z from the Tres Seis mare Cf Smokin Gun.

RG1 winner Dollar Bill, under jockey Jose Hebert, setting the second fastest time in the final trial Thursday.
© Dustin Orona Photography

A $125,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, Cowboys Gun Z has compiled a (5) 3-2-0 record and banked $1,516,000.

TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1) winner Dollar Bill cruised to a one-length win in the closing trial to get the second fastest clocking of :19.808 seconds, a 92 speed index into a 9 mph headwind on a sloppy (sealed) race course.

Trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. sent out the $39,000 TQHA Sale graduate for owner Genesis Tovar. Tyler and Naia Graham bred the son of champion Kiss My Hocks in Texas from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Jakes Painted Wagon.

Gotagogh, under jockey Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr., winning the opening trial Thursday. © Dustin Orona Photography

Jockey Jose Herbert rode Dollar Bill to his fifth consecutive win.  Also the winner of the Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes and second (his only loss in six starts) in the Louisiana Downs Futurity(G2), Dollar Bill has banked $402,794 this season.

Runner-up in trial five, Especially Goodcandy held on to the third fastest clocking of :19.881, a 90 speed index, for owner-breeders Mark and Fay Annett McCloy.  Trainer S. Trey Wood named champion jockey Ricky Ramirez to ride the Jess Good Candy filly out of Especially Tres by Dashair.

Second in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(RG1) at Remington last April, Especially Goodcandy has earned $155,641. She broke her maiden at Lone Star Park in her previous start September 28.

TQHA Yearling Sale $150,000 co-sale-topper, Gotagoach, won the opening trial by 1-1/2 lengths for owner Triple Five to post the third fastest time of :19.884  seconds, into a 9 mph headwind on a muddy "sealed" racing surface. Bumped at the start under jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. the son of leading sire Favorite Cartel quickly took the lead for trainer Juan Diaz Jr.

Undefeated Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner San Lencho, under champion jockey Francisco Calderon.
© Dustin Orona Photography

Bred in Texas by champion breeder Bobby D. Cox, the colt out of Signs Zoomer by Shazoom, was fourth in the Sam Houston Futurity(G2) and TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1) earlier this year. He has earned $95,528 with four wins in six starts.

Making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity in June, San Lencho rolled to a 1-1/4 length win in the third trial for owner-breeder Rogelio Marquez, Jr. He picked up the final qualifying spot on Night 1 with a :19.956 clocking into a 9 mph headwind on a muddy (sealed) track.

Jesus Marquez conditions the colt out of multiple grade 1 winner and producer Dashnunder Afullmoon, by Heza Fast Dash. The Texas' bred colt is undefeated in four starts with earnings of $532,000. He could also be the second million-dollar futurity winner of the year.

For a complete list of Night 1's five qualifiers, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

The second five fastest qualifiers from each night will be preferred invites to the $61,902 Texas Classic Juvenile Invitational. For a list of those horses  CLICK HERE.

Lone Star Park will hose the final eight Texas Classic Futurity trials on Friday's nine-race card kicking off at 6:05 pm (CDT).