Kas Prietito, ridden by Luis Maldonado, captured the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, Stallionesearch

HOUSTON, TX–May 9, 2026—Kas Prietito powered through a tightly contested stretch battle Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park to capture the Grade 2 $75,000 Sam Houston Classic under jockey Luis Maldonado.

The four-year-old gelding covered 440 yards in :21.509 over a muddy sealed racetrack while earning a 106 speed index. Racing just off the pace early, Kas Prietito surged late to defeat Ima Chili by 1 1/4 lengths with Paint Me Onis another neck back in third.

The winning connections of Kas Prietito accept the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic trophy at Sam Houston on Saturday. © Jack Coady Photography

Bred by Rancho J S, Kas Prietito is owned by Fernando and Rolando Soto and trained by Sergio Fuentes. The gelding is sired by Kas Tempting and out of the stakes-winning Azoom mare Marys Corazon.

Saturday’s victory boosted Kas Prietito’s career record to 13 starts with a 4-3-1 mark while the $45,000 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $106,666.

Prior to the Grade 2 victory, Kas Prietito finished third in the Gillespie County Fair Derby and qualified to the finals of both the Grade 2 B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes and the Silver Bullet Stakes.

Following the race, jockey Luis Maldonado credited the gelding’s sharp break and professionalism.

“She had a pretty good start and from there the horse did a good job,” Maldonado said. “I just had to hold on.”

The owners celebrated the milestone victory, calling it the first stakes win for their operation.

“This is our first stakes win so we are very happy,” they said.

Connections also indicated Retama Park is expected to be the gelding’s next stop.

Ima Chili finished second under Nestor Duran for owner Darrell Hooper and trainer Zackery Rios. The gelding stopped the timer in :21.711 while earning a 101 speed index.

Bred by Sarah Huskey, Ima Chili is sired by Chilitos and out of the Executive Menace mare Im Not Hillary, a winner and graded stakes finalist. The runner-up effort improved his record to 13-4-2-4 with earnings of $68,436.

Paint Me Onis completed the trifecta under Jorge Garcia for owner Mary Stratton and trainer Joseph Manucy.

Bred by Scott Jeane, the gelding is sired by Paint Me Perry and out of the Heza Fast Dash mare RL Toni Lynn. Paint Me Onis stopped the clock in :21.745 and earned a 101 speed index while adding to a résumé that already includes victories in the Mardi Gras Derby along with runner-up finishes in both the Grade 2 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes and the Grade 3 Louisiana Champions Day Derby.

Following the effort, Paint Me Onis now owns a record of 13-6-2-2 with earnings of $145,149.

Tha Duke finished fourth and was followed by A Sweet Arthur, who was disqualified and placed tenth following interference in mid-stretch. Celena Olena, Mystic Paint, Onthrocks, Full Boogie, and Lil Perry Wagon completed the order of finish.

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