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Early Post Set for 15 Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity Trials on Saturday
Grade 3 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity winner Trump My Record will head 15 trials on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park for the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity.

© Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski
Early Post Set for 15 Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity Trials on Saturday

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 8, 2019—Sam Houston Race Park will host 15 trials at the distance of 330 yards on Saturday for the richest race of the 2019 Quarter Horse Meeting, the $100,000-added Sam Houston Futurity (G2).

There will be an early post time of 4:00pm (CDT) to accommodate the additional races.

The lone futurity winner in action on Saturday is Trump My Record who will run in the fifth trial. Eddie Sanchez will ride the colt, bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP. He has already banked $116,852 this year and is a $7,500 supplement for the Sam Houston Futurity.

The son of first-crop sire Apollitical Blood out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Breck N Records, is owned by Cruz E. Nava and trained by his brother-in-law Arturo Davila III.

Purchased for just $10,700 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, he was victorious in the $254,070 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity (G3) on March 20 at Louisiana Downs after setting the fastest qualifying time in trials on March 2.

"We were considering supplementing Trump My Record to the Heritage Place Futurity, but decided to run him closer to home, " said Davila. "He came out of his race at Louisiana Downs very well and impressed us with the way he finished. It looks like he wants to go further, which will be great for other futurities later in the year."

Davila, Leon Bard, Santiago Riojas, Jr., Jimmy Padgett, Jose U. Lopez and Robi Meche all have multiple entrants.

Bard, who was the 2018 Sam Houston Race Park leading trainer, won the 2017 edition of the Sam Houston Futurity with This Is An Eagle. He will saddle 11 juveniles on Saturday's card.

"I have a couple I really like, but they are still a little green," stated Bard. "Several have won training races, but you never know which ones will step up in their first career race."

Bard knew he had a sensational runner two years ago with This Is An Eagle. Pete Scarmardo bred the son of One Famous Eagle from the First Down Dash mare Lady Lilia. He was the sale topper at the 2016 TQHA Yearling Sale, purchased for $100,000 by Mary Lynne Thompson.

"I had no doubts about that horse coming into the trials," added Bard with a smile.

This Is An Eagle was a career-defining mount for 2018 Sam Houston leading Quarter Horse jockey Francisco Calderon, who rides first call for Bard.

"He is one of the smartest horses I have ever ridden," recalled Calderon. "I remember getting him ready for the trials. He was so fast in his early works; one morning he ducked out and dropped me! I didn't mind; I just knew he was a really talented colt."

One other exciting note on Saturday's card will be the debut of the first crop of 2014 Sam Houston Futurity winner, Kiss My Hocks. Sam Houston fans cheered on the blazing chestnut son of Tempting Dash in 2014, when he set a new track record in his trial and did not disappoint as the favorite in the final.

Kiss My Hocks was trained by Toby Keeton and was honored as 2014 AQHA 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old colt. Owned by Tyler Graham, Conda Maze and Stan Sigman, he began his stallion career in 2016 at Southwest Stallion Station near Austin, Texas and his colts and fillies are already getting considerable attention this year.

The young sire got his first two winners (see related story) last Friday at Remington Park, qualifying one to the $895,210 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(G1) final and one to the $100,000 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Invitational.

The ten fastest qualifiers will return for the final of the Sam Houston Futurity on Friday, May 3.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the race track and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit shrp.com.