Join the fun at Sam Houston Race Park for the second to last weekend of the live Quarter Horse meet.

© Jack Coady Photogrpahy

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX—JUNE 3, 2026– HOUSTON, TX– Sam Houston Race Park will kick off the second-to-last weekend of its live Quarter Horse racing meet with full cards on Thursday and Friday, June 4-5. The weekend concludes on Saturday, June 6, with the spotlight shifting to the Paint and Appaloosa divisions in the final three races of the afternoon.

Saturday's 11-race card begins at 1:00 p.m., with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. The Paint and Appaloosa stakes action gets underway in Race 9 with the $20,000 Colors of Houston Juvenile, followed by the Grade 2 $30,000 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity in Race 10, and concluding with the Grade 2 $74,900 Colors of Houston Futurity in Race 11.

Saturday's festivities will also feature the Million Dollar Soccer Kick. Fans can celebrate the excitement of the World Cup at Sam Houston Race Park as contestants take on a series of soccer challenges that test skill, precision, and composure under pressure. One finalist will advance for a chance to attempt a spectacular kick worth $1 million.

In addition, the Belmont Festival will take place throughout the day. Racing fans can enjoy live Quarter Horse action before staying for a Belmont Stakes watch party to witness the final leg of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown. The festival combines world-class racing, entertainment, and family-friendly activities for an unforgettable day at the track.

The daughter of Chilitos races for owner-breeder Juan Luis Leon, who purchased her for $7,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale. She is out of the Gol To Go mare Victoria Camila. Trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia will saddle the filly from post seven, with Rosendo E. Pina-Garcia retaining the mount.

$20,000 COLORS OF HOUSTON JUVENILE
Race 9 kicks off Saturday's Paint and Appaloosa stakes program with the $20,000 Colors of Houston Juvenile. Scheduled for approximately 5:03 p.m., the race features the second-fastest group of qualifiers from the Colors of Houston Futurity trials returning for an opportunity at their first stakes success over 300 yards.

This Cowboys An Eagle heads the field as the fastest Juvenile qualifier after finishing fifth behind Miss Chilitos in the futurity trials. Although he showed early speed, he could not sustain his rally late and missed a berth in the futurity final. Since that effort, the colt has reportedly been gelded, a change his connections hope will help him reach his potential.

The son of This Is An Eagle was bred in Texas by noted Paint breeder Sandra Garnett. He is out of the Awesome Chrome mare Camo Cowgirl. Trainer Joseph Manucy will saddle the gelding for owner Jesus Molina, with Victor Urieta Jr. named to ride from post six.

Three of the Juvenile finalists are sired by Chilitos, including second-fastest qualifier Chilita Especial, the only horse in the field to have broken her maiden before reaching the finals.

Juan Johnny Hernandez trains the filly out of Special Fun by Oak Tree Special for owner-breeder Randy Hughes. Luis Vivanco has the riding assignment.

GRADE 2 $30,000 COLORS OF TEXAS PAINT MATURITY
The Grade 2 $30,000 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity, carded as Race 10, features a talented group of older Paints and Appaloosas sprinting 350 yards.

V Golden Game enters as one of the headline performers, the leading money earner in the field, and last year’s reigning champion. The five-year-old gelding has earned a reputation as one of the division’s most consistent runners, making headlines across Texas and Oklahoma throughout his career.

He opened his 2026 campaign with an allowance victory on May 15, wiring the field by 1 1/4 lengths in preparation for this stakes assignment. A multiple stakes winner, V Golden Game captured last year’s Colors of Texas Paint Maturity (G2) and the Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Maturity.

The son of Crm Livewire has earned $103,748 for owner Jorge Vega. Bred in Oklahoma by Aubrey Garcia, he is out of the Game Patriot mare Game Hi. Trainer Oscar Nunez will saddle V Golden Game from post nine, with Victor Urieta Jr. named to ride.

Vp Dash For Texas, a dual-registered AQHA/APHA gelding, is another major contender with earnings of $71,058. The son of Pyc Prize Wagon is coming off a troubled finish after placing second and being disqualified to sixth in the Sam Houston Derby Challenge earlier in May.

Vp Dash For Texas is a multiple stakes winner in both Paint and Quarter Horse competition, including victories in the Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity and the Ochoa Stakes last season. Bred and owned in Texas by Victor Villarreal, he is out of Gw Money Dash by Dr Beduino. Trainer Noe Rios will saddle the three-year-old, with Leonardo Rodriguez named to ride.

GRADE 2 $74,900 COLORS OF HOUSTON FUTURITY
The 300-yard final brings together the 10 fastest qualifiers from the May 21 trial heats, with eight of the finalists sired by leading third-crop sire Chilitos, including the four fastest times. The talented group of juveniles will compete in the afternoon's finale, race 11, scheduled for approximately 6:15 p.m.

Leading the field from the rail is Miss Chilitos, who established herself as one of the division's top juveniles with a commanding one-length trial victory. Prior to her success in the futurity trials, she was tested in Quarter Horse company. She finished fifth in the Louisiana Downs Futurity trials before shipping to Sam Houston, where she broke her maiden in April. She has earned $16,050 for owner Edgar Rivera Hernandez, who purchased her for $13,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Chilitos was bred in Texas by Connie Nobles out of the Stoli mare Tahiti Evening. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez will saddle the filly from post one with Oliver E. Martinez aboard.

Among her strongest challengers is Jvm Hot Victoria, who has been consistently competitive throughout her brief career. She debuted at Remington Park with a neck victory against fellow Paints and Appaloosas before finishing second in her Texas Breeders' Futurity trial heat against Quarter Horses. Returning to the Paint division in the Colors of Houston Futurity Trials, she responded with a one-length victory.

The daughter of Chilitos races for owner-breeder Juan Luis Leon, who purchased her for $7,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale. Out of the Gol To Go mare Victoria Camila, she enters from post seven under trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia. Her son, jockey Rosendo E. Pina-Garcia, will once again be aboard as they seek another standout performance.

As the live meet enters its final stretch, Sam Houston Race Park's second-to-last weekend offers three days of racing and entertainment. Thursday and Friday feature full Quarter Horse cards, while Saturday's Paint and Appaloosa stakes program showcases some of the division's brightest young talent and accomplished veterans. Coupled with the Million Dollar Soccer Kick and Belmont Festival festivities, the weekend provides racing fans and families alike with plenty of reasons to make a trip to the track before the curtain begins to close on another successful season.

About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings, and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining. It features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.

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