Grade 1 winner Houdini will head Friday's Texas Classic Derby(G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

© Reed Palmer Photography

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—OCTOBER 22, 2014—Houdini, a Grade 1-winning son of Valiant Hero racing for Ellen Kennedy Racing LLC, is one of 46 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s 440-yard Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

A homebred gelding trained by Jose Cruz Villafranco, Houdini will be making his first start since August 31, when he ran third, three-quarters of a length behind winner Too Flash For You, in the 440-yard, $1.9-million All American Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. Houdini’s summer campaign included a half-length victory in the July 19, 400-yard Rainbow Derby (G1) at Ruidoso.

Houdini drew post 2 and will be ridden by Cody Jensen in the first of five Texas Classic Derby trials.

Other noteworthy sophomores entered in the trials include Separatist Firstdown, a sorrel colt by champion Separatist owned by Oscar Canales Ramirez and trainer Isidro Flores. Separatist Firstdown is coming off of a Delta Downs campaign in which he won two stakes, including the 400-yard, $138,000 Firecracker Derby (G3) on July 5.

Martin Rubalcava will ride Separatist Firstdown from post 4 in the second heat.

Karen and Preston Cloud’s Rocketair, the morning-line favorite in the fourth trial, will break from post 5 under jockey Ivan Carnero. Trained by Clinton Crawford, the gelded son of Jumpn will be facing 3-year-olds again off of his third-place finish against older runners in the 440-yard, $75,000 Refrigerator Handicap (G1) at Lone Star on October 4.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $400,000-est. final on November 15. Past winners of the Texas Classic Derby include world champions Streakin Sin Tacha (2001), Oak Tree Special (’03), Stolis Winner (’09), and Cold Cash 123 (’11).

The Texas Classic Derby trials, and all Lone Star Park races, can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.