Miss Chilitos headlines the Grade 2 $74,900 Colors of Houston Futurity at Sam Houston Race Park after posting a dominant one-length trial victory on May 21.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 1, 2026–The Saturday afternoon program at Sam Houston Race Park promises an exciting day of racing, with an 11-race card starting at 1:00 p.m. As the afternoon progresses, the spotlight shifts to the Paint and Appaloosa stars in the final three races, highlighted by the $20,000 Colors of Houston Juvenile, the Grade 2 $30,000 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity, and the Grade 2 $74,900 Colors of Houston Futurity.

The featured event, the Grade 2 $74,900 Colors of Houston Futurity, will bring together the ten fastest qualifiers from the May 21 trial heats. The talented group of two-year-olds will race 300 yards in the afternoon’s finale, scheduled for approximately 6:15 p.m.

Leading the contenders from the rail is Miss Chilitos, who stamped herself as one of the division's top juveniles with a dominant one-length victory in her trial. Before her futurity trial success, the filly tested herself against Quarter Horses, finishing fifth in a Louisiana Downs Futurity Trial before shipping to Sam Houston, where she broke her maiden in April. She has now earned $16,050 for owner Edgar Rivera Hernandez, who purchased her for $13,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

The dual-registered daughter of Chilitos is out of the Stoli mare Tahiti Evening and was bred in Texas by Connie Nobles. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez sends her into the final from post one, with Oliver E. Martinez retaining the mount.

Among her strongest challengers is Jvm Hot Victoria, a filly who has never been far from the winner’s circle. She debuted at Remington Park with a determined neck victory over fellow Paints and Appaloosas, then stepped into Quarter Horse company and finished second in a Texas Breeders’ Futurity Trial. Returning to her division in the Colors of Houston Futurity Trials, she delivered another impressive performance, rallying clear to win by a length.

The daughter of Chilitos races for owner-breeder Juan Luis Leon, who purchased her for $7,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale. Out of the Gol To Go mare Victoria Camila, she enters from post seven under trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia. Her son, jockey Rosendo E. Pina-Garcia, will once again be aboard as they seek another standout performance.

The Grade 2 $30,000 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity is the tenth race on the card and features a talented field of older Paints and Appaloosas sprinting 350 yards.

V Golden Game enters as one of the headline performers in the field. The five-year-old gelding has earned a reputation as one of the division’s most consistent runners, making headlines across Texas and Oklahoma throughout his career. He opened his 2026 campaign with a sharp allowance victory on May 15, wiring the field by 1 ¼ lengths in preparation for this stakes assignment.

The accomplished son of Crm Livewire has earned $103,748 for owner Jorge L. Vega. Bred in Oklahoma by Aubrey L. Garcia, V Golden Game is out of the Game Patriot mare Game Hi. He will break from post nine under jockey Victor M. Urieta, Jr., for trainer Oscar Nunez.

The Paint and Appaloosa stakes action kicks off in race nine with the $20,000 Colors of Houston Juvenile, as the second-fastest group of trial qualifiers returns for another shot at stakes glory. The race, scheduled for approximately 5:03 p.m., features a field of promising two-year-olds sprinting 300 yards.

This Cowboys An Eagle heads the field as the fastest qualifier for the Juvenile after finishing fifth behind Miss Chilitos in the futurity trials. Despite showing early speed, he lacked the late punch to challenge for a futurity berth. Since that effort, the colt has reportedly been gelded, a change his connections hope will sharpen his focus moving forward.

The son of This Is An Eagle is out of the Awesome Chrome mare Camo Cowgirl and was bred in Texas by respected Paint breeder Sandra Garnett. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy sends him into the Juvenile for owner Jesus A. Molina, with Victor M. Urieta, Jr., named to ride from post six.

With rising juvenile stars, accomplished older runners, and championship dreams on the line, Saturday’s closing trio of stakes races promises an unforgettable showcase for the Paint and Appaloosa divisions. From emerging futurity contenders to proven stakes veterans, the stage is set for a thrilling afternoon as Sam Houston celebrates some of the sport’s brightest Paint and Appaloosa talent.

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

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