Chieftainess and jockey Francisco Giles capture the $52,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Bailey Ivey, StallioneSearch

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 9, 2026–Chieftainess went gate to wire Friday night to capture the $52,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

Racing over a muddy surface at 350 yards, the Texas-bred filly stopped the clock in 17.548 seconds for a 97 speed index while holding off Mrs Pyc Painted Nova by a neck under jockey Francisco Giles. The effort paid $9.20 on 3.60 odds.

Breaking from post eight, Chieftainess dueled throughout the running and stayed in front to secure her first career stakes victory. The sorrel filly races for owner/breeder Mario Rodriguez and is trained by Martin Rodriguez. The victory was worth $31,200 and pushed her career bankroll to $67,749 from seven starts.

Chieftainess earned her first stakes score in her seasonal debut after facing stakes company throughout her juvenile campaign. Last year she finished third in the TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile, fourth in the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge-G3, and fourth in the G.C.F.A. P&A Juvenile.

Bred in Texas, Chieftainess is by the leading third crop sire Chilitos, out of Chief Lark by Chief Corona.

Mrs Pyc Painted Nova finished second after pressing the winner every step of the way for owner Michael Read and trainer Randall Read. Claudio Aguilar guided the daughter of Little Pyc, who was making only her second start of the season.

The Texas-bred filly has competed primarily in APHA stakes company and last year qualified to six stakes finals, highlighted by a third-place effort in the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2 and a finalist effort in the TPHBA Juvenile. She has now earned $46,572 from 13 career starts.

Little Pyc sired Mrs Pyc Painted Nova was bred in Texas by Michael and Maci Read. She is out of Get Down Jessie by Get Down Perry.

Go Zippalitas closed for third, a length behind the runner-up, for owner/trainer Winston Lewis with Victor Urieta Jr. aboard. The sorrel filly picked up another stakes placing after previously finishing third in the Colors of the Alamo P&A Futurity-G3 during her freishman campaign. Her career earnings climbed to $27,587 from nine starts.

Go Zippalitas is also by Chilitos. Bred in Texas by Stronjai Martin Lewis, she is out of Ms Marshall Lewis by Moon Shake.

Karma Cha Ching was elevated to fourth following the disqualification of Miss Nely. Dm Chilianna finished fifth, followed by This Eagles a Leader, Chile Piquin, the disqualified Miss Nely, and I B A Big Girl.

******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.