Rockin The Train, under jockey Nestor Duran, set the fastest qualifying time for the $65,450 Adequan Sam Houston Derby on Friday.

© Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch.com

HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 25, 2025–Stablemates Rockin The Train and Kick Seis claimed two of three trials for the Adequan Sam Houston Derby on Friday to post the first and third fastest qualifying times, respectively, for owner Deborah Gotovac and trainer Bradley Bolen.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from three trial races contested tonight will return to Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, May 17, to vie for the winner's share of $65,450 going a distance of 440 yards.

The Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge winner also earns a starting spot in the $165,000-est. Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) to be contested during the 2025 Racing Challenge Championships on October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Rockin The Train, a Gotovac homebred son of multiple stakes sire Bp Wagon Train, rocked the second trial under jockey Nestor Duran to win by three-quarters and post the fastest mark of 20.199, a 94 speed index into 4-mph headwind.

Rockin The Train won last year's Prairie Meadows John Deere Juvenile Challenge and got his second career win from 10 starts. Out of the Rock Solid Jess mare Rock Solid Jet, Rockin The Train has banked $50,952.

Gotovac, Bolen, and Nestor teamed again in the final trial with Kick Seis, a three-quarter-length winner, in the third fastest clocking of 20.267, a 93 speed index into a 5-mph headwind.

Bred in Colorado by Jose Flores and George Seward, Kick Sies broke his maiden after compiling a (4) 0-2-1 record racing at SunRay Park and Louisiana Downs. The son of leading sire One Famous Eagle is out of Kickin Seis by Tres Seis.

Jessesflyincowgirl was a one-length winner as the post-time favorite under jockey Christian Ramos in the opening trial. The daughter of leading third-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 posted the second fastest time of 20.231, a 93 speed index into a 3-mph headwind.

Leading trainer Marc Jungers conditions the Oklahoma-bred, out of Jesses Dashair by Dashair, for owner Jose Luis Gonzalez. The lightly raced filly got her second win in four career starts.  

Jessesflyincowgirl broke her maiden in her career debut, a trial for the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs last summer. Celia Kinsey and Sandra Wood are the breeders.

CLICK HERE for Adequan Sam Houston Derby qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

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