Bludz Valiant Policy, under jockey Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr., posted the fastest qualifying time for the inaugural $176,250 Sam Houston Oaks on Thursday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 21, 2026– Homebred runners dominated the inaugural running of the $176,250 Sam Houston Oaks Trials on Thursday night at Sam Houston Race Park, as the top three qualifiers were all bred by their owners and four additional homebreds also advanced to the finals. The $176,250 final will be contested on June 13.

Fastest qualifier Bludz Valiant Policy delivered a standout effort in the opening trial, surging to a convincing 4 1/2-length victory under jockey Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. The homebred filly for Three Bar T Quarter Horses is trained by Ben Olaveson and stopped the timer in :19.737 seconds for a 105 speed index, the fastest mark of the evening.

Still searching for her first stakes victory, Bludz Valiant Policy improved her record to 6-4-0-1 with earnings of $56,720 after qualifying for her first major stakes final since last season’s Dash For Cash Futurity (G2). The daughter of champion sire Apollitical Blood is out of the Tres Seis mare BP Tres Policies.

Second fastest qualifier This Eagles A Leader captured the third trial under jockey Gilberto Linares for owner/breeder Pete Scarmardo and trainer John Stinebaugh. The filly covered the distance in :19.858 seconds for a 102 speed index after breaking sharply and drawing clear late.

The daughter of graded stakes winner This Is An Eagle is out of the stakes placed Corona Cartel mare Cartel Leader and is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Jess The Leader, earner of $390,750. A $24,000 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale graduate, This Eagles A Leader now owns a 10-2-2-1 record with earnings of $26,681. She entered the trials off a finalist effort in the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes.

Third fastest qualifier Karma Cha Ching won the second trial under jockey Luis Vivanco for owner/breeder Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio. The Pa Cha Ching filly stopped the clock in :19.897 seconds while earning a 101 speed index.

Out of the Tinys First Corona mare Marthas First Corona, Karma Cha Ching now sports a 9-2-1-0 record with earnings of $29,202. The filly remains in search of her first stakes victory after previously finishing fourth in the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes and qualifying to the TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (G2).

Full list of qualifiers can be found HERE.

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