Eagle On A June Bug, under jockey Javier Hernandez, won the $176,250 Sam Houston Derby(G3) on Saturday night.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 13, 2026–Eagle On A June Bug surged to the front in the deep stretch before holding off a determined Royalist to capture Saturday night's Grade 3 $234,050 Sam Houston Derby at Sam Houston Race Park.

Covering 400 yards in 19.473 over a fast track, the sorrel gelding earned a 112 speed index while securing the winner's share of $93,620 from the rich derby purse. This was the first career stakes win for the gelding, who was second in the TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1) and the Louisiana Downs Futurity(G2) last year.

Owned by Sergio Jimenez and Enrique Santollo, Eagle On A June Bug is a 3-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Eagles Fly Higher out of Sandy June Bug, by Blushing Bug. 

"We had a lot of family and friends here today. We got a lot of support, and we’re grateful," his owners said. "We thank everybody who came out and supported us today."

The Texas-bred gelding was bred by Robert T. Moudy III and is trained by Victor Oviedo.

The winning connections of Eagle On A June Bug accept the Sam Houston Derby stakes trophy on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

“I was pretty confident in this race. I just felt like the horse was getting better and better," Oviedo said after the race.“During his 2-year-old campaign, he was good, but he just hadn’t fully developed yet. He came off two or three big futurities and finished second in two of them, and we knew this was probably going to be his year."

Ridden by Javier Hernandez, Eagle On A June Bug dueled throughout before drawing clear late to score by one-half length. The victory added a sixth career win in 11 starts to the gelding's resume after being purchased for $20,000 at the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale. He has banked $366,076.

"Last year he was running pretty well, and this year I knew it was going to be his year," Hernandez said.

Royalist, the 1.10-1 favorite, finished a game second after battling for the lead through much of the race. The sorrel colt by #3 all-time leading sire Corona Cartel out of Zigfield Follies, by One Famous Eagle, earned $46,810 for owner Hector Reina.

Bred in California by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa, Royalist is trained by Ben Olaveson and was ridden by Luis Vivanco. He earned a 109 speed index while finishing one-half length behind the winner and one and one-half lengths ahead of the third-place finisher.

The $120,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale graduate was a finalist in the EVD Futurity(G2) last December and has banked $96,069 in 10 career starts.

Litenin finished third and collected $23,405. The brown gelding by Class King out of Fleet Elis, by Fishers Dash, was bred in Texas by Bullard Farms and races for owner Rene Roman.

Trained by Janessa Muniz and ridden by Randy Edison Jr., Litenin dueled early before weakening late. He ws a $17,000 TQHA Sale graduate in 2024 and has earned $91,765.

Ring a Ling Ding finished fourth, followed by Di Kvn Waven, Jess Drive, Run On Monday, Cobra Stone 77, Atlas Rise, and Prize Time Lelo, who completed the field.

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