Jeg Fascination B powers home to post the fastest qualifying time in the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) trials at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 24, 2026–Six trial heats were contested Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park to determine qualifiers for the $106,029 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3), with a competitive group of two-year-olds vying for a spot in the upcoming final.

Jeg Fascination B emerged as the fastest qualifier of the night, winning the sixth and final trial with a strong finish to stop the clock in :18.010 seconds for 350 yards, earning an 84 speed index. The filly showed determination in the stretch to secure the top time among all qualifiers.

A homebred for Jesus Eden Garza, Jeg Fascination B is trained by Jose Lopez and was ridden by Noe Castaneda. The filly is sired by world champion sire Freighttrain B, a leading sire with more than $29 million in progeny earnings, and is out of the stakes-placed Mr Jess Perry mare JA Fascination ($13,580), a full sister to stakes winner JA Jess Perfect ($52,435).

She is also a half-sister to stakes-placed runner JEG Moons Fascination, from a female family that includes stakes winners Dashmetothemoon ($37,408), Moon Em N Dash ($58,879) and Cayenneoverthemoon ($175,899). Jeg Fascination B now owns a record of 3-2-0-0 with earnings of $11,400.

Second fastest qualifier Mr Mallard Hocks delivered an impressive performance in the second trial, drawing clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths while stopping the clock in :18.016 seconds with an 84 speed index. Bred by Jose Luis Perez Aguirre, the gelding is owned by Francisco Urteaga, trained by Jose Luis Sanchez II and ridden by Luis Vivanco.

Sired by champion Kiss My Hocks, Mr Mallard Hocks is out of the stakes-placed mare Miss Mallard Struts by Struttin To Beduino. He is a half-brother to stakes winner Mr Fast Mallard ($232,317), and his second dam is a full sister to stakes winner Mr Mallard ($573,726) and a half-sister to Toast To Mallard ($110,133). The trial effort marked his career debut.

Third fastest qualifier Cartel Fly By secured his spot with a victory in the third trial, stopping the clock in :18.035 seconds while earning an 83 speed index. The gelding was sharp from the start and held on gamely to cross the wire first.

Bred by Arkofa Farm, Cartel Fly By is owned by Brittany Lynn Garcia, trained by Hector Osorio and ridden by Agustin Silva. He is sired by champion Carters Cartel and out of the Apollitical Jess mare Fly By You.

A half-brother to stakes winner Flybyby ($41,659), he also descends from stakes winner Fovee ($380,385) and stakes winner Fodice ($119,841), from the family of dam of distinction Zipp Zoro ($102,240). Cartel Fly By now has a record of 3-1-0-1 with earnings of $7,424.

View full list of qualifiers HERE.

The top qualifiers will return for the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) final, where Jeg Fascination B will look to convert her fastest qualifying effort into a graded stakes victory.

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