HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 23, 2014—Live racing returns on Thursday, April 24 with three trials for the Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge on the ten-race card, which gets underway at 7:00 p.m.

Three stakes are set for Saturday, April 26 at Sam Houston Race Park, highlighted by two Bank of America Challenge stakes, the $29,160 Merial Distaff Texas Challenge and the $20,790 Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge. The always popular Texas Twister Stakes, at 110 yards, is also on Saturday's card.

Solid Group of Fillies and Mares to Compete in the $29,160 Merial Distaff Texas Challenge on Saturday Evening

A field of ten fillies and mares will compete in Saturday’s Merial Distaff Texas Challenge. The draw for the 400 yard stakes took place on Wednesday, April 23, and features several stakes winners as well as some talented, but lightly raced fillies.

2011 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Champion, Shez Jess Toxic is the high earner in the field with $217,607 in career purses. The 5-year-old daughter of Take Off Jess is bred, owned and trained by Dean Frey. The multiple-stakes winning mare drew post position five and will be ridden by Sam Houston leading jockey Luis Vivanco on Saturday evening.

“She ran third in the Charger Bar (January 5 at Los Alamitos) and then we turned her out,” said Frey. “She has been training at Remington Park and is doing well. We thought that the Houston race would be a good opportunity to get her qualified for the final.”

"This mare has never run worse than third," added Frey. "I'm a believer in taking care of what takes care of you. She's a big, sound mare with a lot of personality."

The field will also include three mares from the barn of Brandon Muniz: Miss J P Washer; Ms Jesse Belle and Im Delicious. All are owned by Ignacio Soto.

Miss JP Washer ships to Houston off a convincing win in the $25,854 Hialeah Maiden Challenge on February 22. The 4-year-old daughter of Mr Jess Perry, bred in Texas by Abraham Trading/Mitchell Ranch is seeking her third win of 2014 this weekend.

Jorge Haddad will saddle the entry of Im a Feature Girl and Biarritz, who have competed in the Bank of America Texas Challenge and Silestone Stakes, respectively, this season at Sam Houston Race Park.

The Merial Distaff Texas Challenge runs as the seventh race of Saturday's card, which gets underway at 6:00 p.m.The winning mare will represent Texas in the $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows on October 18.

Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge on Saturday

The $20,790 Zoetis Sam Houston Starter Allowance Challenge will also be contested Saturday evening. The 350-yard race is for Bank of America Racing Challenge-enrolled horses that have started for a claiming price of $5,000 or less within 12 months prior to the sustaining/late payment deadline.

Call of Duty makes his Sam Houston debut for owner Mary Lynne Thompson and trainerLarry Kopycinski. The 4-year-old Texas-bred makes just his second start of the year and will be ridden by Francisco Calderon. Other contenders in the nine-horse field include The Mighty Delta, who broke his maiden here last May and drew the rail for James Gerhards. TrainerJudd Kearl will saddle The Punkin, a 4-year-old daughter of Spit Curl Jess and Texas-bredBlessings Brother, who makes his first start since running last November at Lone Star.

The winner of the Starter Allowance Challenge will earn a berth to the $75,000 Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows on October 18.

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 the Champion Energy Services Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit