Challenge


Challenge Stakes Reset For Monday, Closing Day at Sam Houston Race Park
James Hrabovsky and J. Leann Nalls' Teardrops At The Bar posted the fastest John Deere Texas Juvenile trail time on April 22.

© Coady Photography
Challenge Stakes Reset For Monday, Closing Day at Sam Houston Race Park

HOUSTON, TX—MAY 15, 2016—Racing on Saturday was cancelled at Sam Houston Race Park after the second race due to inclement weather, forcing the reschedule of their final two stakes, the $69,390 John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3) and the $44,460 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge. Both races are now scheduled as the 13th and 14th races on Monday's card (May 16).

Fastest Qualifier Teardrops At the Bar Returns in John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3)

Six trials were contested on Friday, April 22 for the $69,390 John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3).

For the second year in a row, trainer Brian Stroud saddled the fastest qualifier as Teardrops At The Bar under jockey Luis Vivanco won his 350-yard trial in :17.793. Bred and owned by James Hrabovsky and J. Leann Nalls, the son of Separatist is now two-for-two in his young career. He will break from post two as the 7-2 choice.

"He's still a little green," said Stroud. "He hasn't put it all together, but he ran a great race. It's encouraging to know he has won twice and I think he's even better than what he has shown."

Michael Amburn's homebred Jayronimo is the second of Stroud's 2-year-olds for Saturday's final.

"He's also had two outs," added Stroud, who tabbed Francisco Ramirez, Jr. to ride the son of Jess Zoomin. "In his trial, he didn't get away real sharp, but coming running hard at the end."

Stroud reports that last year's fastest qualifier Tellereyemathebar, a half-brother to Teardrops At the Bar, will be in action in the Heritage Place Derby trials this weekend at Remington Park. It's been a whirlwind for Stroud, who is running horses in Houston, Delta Downs and Remington Park. All systems are go for 2014 AQHA world champion JRC Callas First who will make his next start in the $250,000 Remington Park Invitational (G1) on June 4.

Trainer Rolando Almanza also qualified two finalists: Shez Freaky and Maxx. Shez Freaky, owned by Mario Lozano-Cantu, ran fourth in the $268,000 Harrah's Futurity at Louisiana Downs on March 23. Jessie Lee Levario will pilot the Tr Dasher filly and Manuel Gutierrez will ride Maxx, a Pyc Paint Your Wagon colt who ran second to Teardrops At the Bar in his trial.

The final will run as the ninth race on Saturday with the winner advancing to the $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Los Alamitos on October 29.

Brookside Leads the Field in Adequan Texas Derby Challenge

Linda Loftis Tobias' homebred Brookside was impressive as fastest qualifier in her trial win to the $44,460 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge on April 23 at Sam Houston Race Park, blazing to her 400-yard victory in :19.988 seconds.

Linda Loftis Tobias' Brrokside was the fastest qualifier in the April 23 Adequan Texas Derby trials.
© Coady Photography
The lightly raced daughter of Brookstone Bay is trained by Leon Bard and will be making her fourth career start Saturday evening under jockey Nestor Duran.

"She's a very nice filly," said Bard, who also qualified Pete Scarmardo's Swifter Deal.

Their toughest competition will come from multiple stakes finalist Bm Casina Royal who set the second fastest qualifying time of :20.002. Bobby Myers is the owner and breeder of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon filly, who will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo. She is conditioned by leading Sam Houston Race Park trainer Judd Kearl.

Bm Casina Royal has won four of 10 starts with earnings of $27,409. She is out of the Royal Shake Em mare Joyalty.

Mazzimo, bred, owned and trained by Jorge Haddad, won his trial in :20,266, setting the fourth-fastest time. The son of leading second crop sire The Louisiana Cartel, has now won two in a row, and Haddad looks for a good effort on Saturday night.

"He looks great," said Haddad, who will give a let up to Manuel Gutierrez. "He won his schooling race at Retama, and now with two nice wins, I think he is getting the hang of this."

The winner will represent Texas in the $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Los Alamitos on October 29.

Moe Lassus Top Qualifiers In Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge

Two trials for the $30,597 Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge were contested April 29 at Sam Houston Race Park and Moe Lassus topped the qualifiers, covering 350 yards in :17.904 seconds.

J. J. Racing;s Moe Lassus set the fastest time in the Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge trials April 29. © Coady Photography
It was the first win for the 3-year-old son of Favorite Cartel, owned by J. J. Racing and trained by Judd Kearl. Jockey Noe Villatoro piloted the bay gelding to his maiden-breaking victory, following four starts earlier this year at Hialeah Park.

Foaled on May 2, Kearl did not rush the bay gelding into early competition. He did not even make a start until December 28, 2015 at Hialeah Park. He improved in each of his four starts at the south Florida racetrack and showed he was in form in his trial win. Moe Lassus, installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite, ran third in the $25,000 South Florida Invitational on February 27. His trainer believes he is ready for his first stakes win.

"He ran a good race and came back fine," said Kearl. "Noe has done well on the horse; he'll ride him back in the final."

His top rivals include Sixes Sola, a Mr Jess Perry filly owned by Marshall P. Watson and trained by Michael Taylor. She won her trial in :18.022 under Francisco Ramirez, Jr., who will have the return call and break from post position four. Michael Amburn's Black Dress, also by Favorite Cartel, has fared well in each of her four starts. Trained by Mike Robbins, she has finished second or third here and at Retama Park. Jockey Raul Gutierrez will pilot the filly from the rail.

The Bank of America Texas Maiden Challenge is the lone stakes race carded for Friday evening, and will run as the ninth.

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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.