HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 23, 2016—Making just her third career start, Brookside dueled Bm Casina Royale to the wire Saturday night as the pair posted the top two qualifying times for the Adequan Texas Derby Challenge at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from two trial races, will return to the Houston, Texas raceway on Saturday, May 14 to vie for the winner's share of $35,000-added purse going 400 yards. Also on the line is an automatic berth to the Grade 3 $200,000-Guarnteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Ridden by jockey Francisco Calderon, Brookside ran down Bm Casina Royale by a head in the second trial to record the fastest qualifying time of :19.988 seconds, a 98 speed index into a 7 mph headwind.

Leon Bard conditions the homebred Brookstone Bay filly for owner/breeder Linda Loftis Tobias. Brookside entered the race off a second place effort in an allowance at Sam Houston April 8th. Prior to that she won her only start at 2, a $10,000 claiming race at Lone Star Park last fall. The brown filly is out of I Fly American, by American Champ (TB).

Stakes-placed and multiple stakes finalist Bm Casina Royal finished second with the second fastest qualifying time of :20.002, also a 98-speed index. Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo had the riding call for trainer Judd Kearl.

Bm Casina Royal is a Texas homebred daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon for owner/breeder Bobby Myers. She entered the race off an allowance win at Sam Houston on April 8th. The winner of four of 10 starts with earnings of $27,409 is out of the Royal Shake Em mare Joyalty.

Mazzimo, a son of leading second crop sire The Louisiana Cartel, got the fourth fastest time of :20.266 seconds, a 91 speed index with a 7 mph headwind, after winning the first trial.

Bred-owned and trained by Jorge Haddad, the lightly race bay gelding entered the trials off a maiden trial victory at Sam Houston in March. Prior to that he was off the board in two starts at 2 in the West Coast last year. He is out of the "blue hen" producer Las Alamitos, by First Down Dash.

For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the Adequan Texas Derby Challenge CLICK HERE.

Editor's note: A photo of the fastest qualifier will be posted when it becomes available.