Kas Hes Ec, under jockey Everardo Rodriguez, set the fastest time on Night 2 of the $697,725 Sam Houston Futurity(G2) trials at Sam Houston Race Park Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX—MAY 24, 2025— Kas Hes Ec delivered a commanding performance on the second night of trials for the $697,725 Sam Houston Futurity(G2), posting the fastest qualifying time of the evening and securing his spot in the June 14 final at Sam Houston Race Park.

The full field will include the top five qualifiers from both nights of trials (see related story for night 1), and the championship event is poised to be the highlight of the Sam Houston meet.

The son of champion Ec Jet One stormed home in 17.981 in the seventh trial of the night (Race 8), pulling away by a full length under jockey Everardo Rodriguez. Trained by Riley S. Aguilar for owner R C Stables LLC, the Texas-bred colt was bred by Francisco Javier Garza and sold for $36,000 at the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale.

Out of the Make It Anywhere mare, Beaukas, Kas Hes Ec looked every bit the part of a top-tier juvenile with his flawless break and relentless finish into a stiff headwind. He was third in his only other start, a maiden at Sam Houston April 25.

The second-fastest qualifier of the night, A Maverick, clocked 18.004 after a hard-fought runner-up effort in the opening trial of the evening. Owned by Jose Martin Ramirez Garcia and trained by Yasmine M. Medina, the gray gelding was bred in Texas by Triple K Farms and ridden by Claudio Ponce Aguilar.

The son of champion A Revenant is out of Down Some Gold, a daughter of First Down Dash, and was a $45,000 graduate of the TQHA Yearling Sale. Despite not winning his heat, A Maverick showed excellent determination to qualify with a swift time over a tiring track.

Another standout from Night 2 was Britts Special Candy, a $82,000 purchase from the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The filly won her heat in 18.012, fending off a talented field in the ninth trial.

Owned by Jose Antonio Cano and trained by Patrick L. Clemons, the daughter of Jess Good Candy was guided to victory by jockey Nestor Duran. Bred in Oklahoma by H & E Ranch Inc., she is out of Britts Special Eyes by Strawfly Special—a family rich in stakes-winning bloodlines. She overcame early pressure with a strong rally to win convincingly.

Just behind her in the same trial was West Texas Royalty, who finished in 18.045 to earn a spot in the final. Bred and owned by Kevin Hogan of Oklahoma, the gelding is trained by Arnold Lewis and ridden by Luis L. Vivanco.

By leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Tres of Royalty by Tres Seis, West Texas Royalty kept gamely through the lane, showing grit and consistency in his qualifying effort. His performance marked a notable improvement from his previous start and signals a colt coming into his own.

Run On Monday also stamped himself as a contender with a gritty trial win in Race 5, stopping the clock in 18.089. The Texas-bred son of first-crop sire Cyber Monday held off Tyrannical's closing bid to notch a narrow victory under jockey Noe Villatoro.

Adan Guzman trains him for owner-breeders Dream Girl Partners. Out of Shinning Runaway by Sir Runaway Dash, Run On Monday showed resilience in traffic and strong finishing ability—qualities that bode well heading into the final.

Rounding out the Night 2 qualifiers was Tyrannical, who ran second to Run On Monday but qualified with a time of 18.139. Bred in Oklahoma by Andy Knight, the gelding is trained by Raul E. Galvan and owned by Martin Galvan.

Jockey Rene Rafael Alvizo was aboard for the qualifying effort. By champion and champion sire Tempting Dash out of Cartel Chica by Teller Cartel, Tyrannical was a $50,000 purchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale and demonstrated sharp early foot before being collared in the final strides.

As the countdown begins to the June 14 final, Kas Hes Ec stands atop a competitive group of Night 2 qualifiers, each boasting the breeding, connections, and form to make a serious run at the lucrative Grade 2 title.

For a list of the "top ten" Sam Houston Futurity qualifiers from both nights' trials, including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys, CLICK HERE.

The second five fastest qualifiers from each night of trials are preferred invites to the $77,525 Sam Houston Juvenile that will also be contested on Saturday, June 14.  For a list of those horses, CLICK HERE. 

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