Cowboys Flying headlines the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity field Saturday night at Sam H

© Jack Coady Photography

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

HOUSTON, TX–May 5, 2026—Saturday, May 9th at Sam Houston Race Park sets the stage for one of the most electrifying programs of the season, as a ten-race card kicks off at 6:30 PM featuring seven stakes’ events packed with talent, speed, and championship implications. The night is anchored by a powerful lineup that includes the G3 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge, the Adequan Derby Final, the G3 John Deere Juvenile Final, the G1 Texas Breeders Futurity, and the G2 Sam Houston Classic, alongside the John Buchanan Memorial and Leon Bard Memorial Stakes. It’s a card built for intensity from start to finish, where every race raises the stakes.

Everything is set for a thrilling night of Texas-bred racing at Sam Houston Race Park, where the spotlight belongs to the state’s finest juveniles and proven runners ready to deliver under the lights. The card builds toward a marquee showdown in the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity, supported by a strong lineup of stakes that showcase the depth, speed, and pride of the Texas breeding program.

The centerpiece event, the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity, will feature the ten fastest qualifiers from the April 17th trial heats, set to go 330 yards at approximately 9:58 PM.

Drawing the inside rail is the fastest qualifier, Cowboys Flying, who turned heads with a powerful effort in the ninth trial. Locked in a duel early, he showed grit and determination to pull away late and win by three-quarters of a length over Apollitical Cowboy. The gelding entered the trials well-prepared, gaining valuable experience through workouts at Retama Park and Delta Downs.

Racing for Double J Racing, who secured him for $53,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, the Dr. Tommy Hays’ Texas-bred gelding is by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the Carters Cartel mare Cartels Lady. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal will send him from post one with Victor M. Urieta, Jr. returning to the saddle, looking to convert that top qualifying effort into a signature victory.

The Texas Breeders Futurity carries added prestige as a major event for accredited Texas-bred two-year-olds, representing the culmination of years of dedication by breeders and horsemen. The Texas Quarter Horse Association has continued to elevate opportunities for Texas-Breds, and this race stands as a testament to the strength of the program and the promise of the 2024 foal crop.

Earlier on the card, the fifth race honors a piece of racing history with the $52,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes, featuring Texas-bred three-year-old fillies going 350 yards.

I B a Big Girl headlines a competitive field of nine as she makes her anticipated three-year-old debut. She has steadily prepared for this moment, posting three workouts since early March, including a sharp bullet drill at Retama Park, covering 220 yards in :11.93 and ranking fastest among 27 workers that day.

The homebred filly for Barbee and Shane Beers is by Big Daddy Cartel out of I B Jessie Jane, and trainer John A. Stinebaugh will saddle her from post three with Gilberto Linares aboard.

The sixth race features the $52,000 Leon Bard Memorial Stakes, where a field of Texas-bred three-year-olds will go 350 yards in another competitive dash.

Shot of Takillya enters looking to rebound after qualifying to the G3 West Texas Derby earlier this year. Though the final didn’t unfold as hoped, he has since regrouped with solid preparation, including a 220-yard work in 12.24 over the Sam Houston Race Park surface.

Bred and Owned by Sunset Well Service, Inc., the colt is by Muddy Watters out of Takillya Gurl, and trainer Francisco Perez, Jr. will send him from post two with Raul P. Hernandez, Jr. in the irons.

Capping the evening is the G2 $75,000 Sam Houston Classic Stakes, the tenth race on the card, featuring older horses going 440 yards.

 A Sweet Arthur brings strong credentials into the race, shipping in from Remington Park off a determined victory in the 550-yard G2 SLM Big Daddy Stakes. Known for his late kick, he surged to win by half a length in his last outing and now looks to carry that momentum into this competitive field.

With earnings of $79,055 from twelve starts, the gelding by A Sweet Jess out of Alltherightcurves will break from post two under Victor M. Urieta, Jr. for trainer Juan Ignacia Garcia.

With a full slate of stakes races, rising stars, and proven contenders, the night promises high energy and unforgettable performances. As the gates open and the crowd builds, Texas-breds will once again take center stage, running not just for victory, but for pride, legacy, and the future of Texas racing.

The races at Sam Houston can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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