Challenge


Eight Fillies and Mares Set in the $26,100 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge
Kitty Kat Galore will enter the Merial Distaff Challenge off a win in the Miss Sam Houston earlier this month.

© Coady Photography
Eight Fillies and Mares Set in the $26,100 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge

HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 26, 2016—Sam Houston Race Park will host the $26,100 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge Saturday evening. A field of eight fillies and mares will compete at 400 yards with the winner earning a berth to the national championship in October.

Kitty Kat Galore B, a 4-year-old daughter of FDD Dynasty owned by Bryon Gardner is the 9-5 favorite.

Trained by Judd Kearl, she has stakes wins at Lone Star Park and faced tough company earlier this year at Hialeah Park. She won the Miss Houston Stakes here on April 1 at 330 yards. Kearl who will give a leg up to leading rider Rodrigo Vallejo, feels she is even better at 400 yards.

"The longer the better," said Kearl. "She's a great big filly and she came into her own late in her 2-year-old campaign. Her biggest strength is her heart; she tries hard every time. I thought we were beat 30 yards from the wire in the Miss Houston, but she dug in."

Kearl will also saddle Lil Effortless Reign, who will make her stakes debut for Scarlett Hill Farm, Inc.

Pete Scarmardo's Time for Wine will be in pursuit of her third career win. She will have the very capable duo of trainer Leon Bard and jockey Francisco Calderon behind her. The 4-year-old Mr Jess Perry mare broke her maiden here last May and competed in the John Deere Challenge last summer at Retama Park. Calderon reports that she is working well for her 2016 debut.

"She's a nice mare and is doing really well," said Calderon. "In her last start at Lone Star, she fell face first out of the gate, but got in stride and finished fourth. Kitty Kat Galore is the one to beat, but our mare is ready."

Vital Temp, a 4-year-old daughter of Tempting Dash trained by Angel Sanchez, returns to action with Luis Vivanco in the irons. She stumbled in the Miss Houston Stakes, losing her rider, and hopefully will have better luck this Saturday.

The winner will represent Texas in the $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos on October 29.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level presented by Draft Kings, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming group events, racing events, shows and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.