By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 6, 2026–One of the richest weekends of the 2026 live Quarter Horse meet at Sam Houston Race Park begins Thursday, May 7, and runs through Saturday, May 9, building toward a stakes-packed finale.

Thursday’s nine-race program leans on maiden and claiming company early, then transitions into allowance competition. Friday keeps the focus on developing 3-year-olds alongside additional maiden races, offering a glimpse at emerging talent.

Saturday delivers one of the strongest programs of the season with a ten-race card featuring seven stakes events. The lineup includes three AQHA Challenge races—the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge, the John Deere Juvenile Challenge, and the Adequan Derby—along with the John Buchanan Memorial and Leon Bard Memorial.

The night is anchored by the inaugural $541,000 Texas Breeders’ Futurity, the only futurity in the state restricted to Texas-bred 2-year-olds, and concludes with the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic.

“I am looking forward to an evening full of competitive racing at its best! A lot of the horses in most of the contests are very evenly matched,” said Sam Houston Racing Secretary, Mike Action.  “We cap the night off with one of my favorite races, the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic. I love seeing those nice older horses hook up going 1/4 mile! The fans and horsemen alike will be in for a treat this Saturday at the races!”

Friday night entertainment is highlighted by a Selena Tribute Band and the track’s popular $4 Beer Night, while Saturday features the annual Wine Tasting with six selections paired with a full charcuterie spread.

Also on Saturday night, Sam Houston Race Park will honor Rob Werstler for his years of service to the Texas Horse Industry as he retires from TQHA and hands over the reins to Scott Sherwood.

Gates open nightly at 5:00 p.m., with first post at 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY NIGHT STAKES LINEUP

• Race 4: $43,478 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge (G3)
• Race 5: $52,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes
• Race 6: $52,000 Leon Bard Memorial Stakes
• Race 7: $58,344 Adequan Derby
• Race 8: $106,029 John Deere Juvenile Challenge (G3)
• Race 9: $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity
• Race 10: $75,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2)

RACE 4: $43,478 Q-RACING VIDEO DISTANCE CHALLENGE (G3)
The action begins with Race 4, where eight seasoned runners return from the April 24 trials to tackle the demanding 870-yard distance.

Breaking from post seven, fastest qualifier Gjr Rooster brings both grit and consistency into the spotlight. The five-year-old gelding held firm through a two-wide duel around the turn to secure a half-length victory and the top time. With a record of 5-7-4 from 21 starts and earnings of $168,379, he has established himself as a reliable force in distance racing.

Owned by Richard D. Young, Joe David Yates, and Zack Stinebaugh, who also trains, the Texas-bred son of This Is an Eagle will have Gilberto Linares aboard.

Race 5: $52,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes
The fifth race honors a piece of racing history with Texas-bred three-year-old fillies going 350 yards.

I B A Big Girl headlines a field of nine as she makes her anticipated three-year-old debut. She has steadily prepared with three workouts since early March, including a bullet 220-yard drill in :11.93 at Retama Park, the fastest of 27 workers that day.

The homebred filly for Barbee and Shane Beers is by Big Daddy Cartel. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh will saddle her from post three with Gilberto Linares aboard.

Race 6: $52,000 Leon Bard Memorial Stakes
The sixth race features Texas-bred three-year-olds going 350 yards.

Shot of Takillya enters looking to rebound after qualifying to the Grade 3 West Texas Derby earlier this year. Though the final did not unfold as hoped, he returns with steady preparation, including a 220-yard work in 12.24 over the Sam Houston surface.

Bred and owned by Sunset Well Service, Inc., the son of Muddy Watters will break from post two under Raul Hernandez, Jr. for trainer Francisco Perez, Jr.

Race 7: $58,344 Adequan Derby
The seventh race shifts to the 400-yard Adequan Derby Final, featuring ten of the fastest three-year-olds from the trials.

The Valiant Flame enters as a top contender after finishing a neck behind fastest qualifier Full Throttle N 25 in the trials. The Texas-bred filly has earned $33,436 with two wins and two seconds from six starts while qualifying for both the Grade 3 Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge and the Grade 2 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity last season.

Owned by Torres Buildings, the daughter of The Louisiana Cartel drew the rail and will be ridden by Jose R. Herbert for trainer Brian Stroud.

Vp Dash For Texas, the only stakes winner in the field, returns as a serious contender. Bred and owned in Texas by Victor Villarreal, MD, the son of Pyc Prize Time, won the Ochoa Stakes and the Colors of the Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Futurity and was third in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge Stakes. Nestor Duran will have the call.

Race 8: $106,029 John Deere Juvenile Challenge (G3)
Momentum builds into Race 8, where juveniles go 350 yards. Jeg Fascination B headlines the field as the fastest qualifier after a three-quarter length trial victory. The filly has won two of three starts and earned $11,400, making her one of the more seasoned runners in the line-up.

Bred in Texas by Jesus Eden Garza, trainer Jose U. Lopez will send the daughter of Freighttrain B from post three with Noe Castaneda aboard.

Race 9: $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity
The centerpiece event features the ten fastest qualifiers from the April 17 trials going 330 yards.

Fastest qualifier, Cowboys Flying, drew the rail after a standout effort in his trial. Racing for Double J Racing, he was a $53,000 TQHA Yearling Sale purchase and will be sent out by trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal with Victor Urieta, Jr. aboard.

Coronas First Cowboy, the only multiple winner in the field who remains undefeated, drew post two.

Whoopie Cowgirl, the only stakes winner in the lineup, drew post nine under jockey Jorge Garcia. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal will saddle the filly for owner Denis Moran. After scoring a victory in the Laddie Futurity earlier this season, she is looking for a second stakes win and to add to her $145,854 bankroll.

In addition to the lucrative purse, TQHA is offering a $20,000 Nominators Award, distributed among the top four finishers: $10,000 to the winner, $5,000 to second, $3,000 to third, and $2,000 to fourth.

Race 10: $75,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2)
Capping the evening is the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic-G2, a race packed full of seasoned older runners going 440 yards.

A Sweet Arthur brings strong credentials, shipping in from Remington Park off a victory in the SLM Big Daddy Stakes (G2). Known for his closing kick, he rallied to win by half a length in his last start. With earnings of $79,055 from 12 starts, the gelding by A Sweet Jess will break from post two under Victor M. Urieta, Jr. for trainer Juan Ignacia Garcia.

Another horse to be on the lookout for is Ima Chili, a multiple stakes winner with $219,759 in earnings, returning for owner Darrel Hooper under jockey Nestor Duran. The son of Chilitos is looking to break through on the board after two close efforts earlier this season at Remington Park.

Tha Duke, who has the most earnings in the field, is a multiple graded stakes winner making his debut start of the season coming off a win in the Mid City Stakes-RG3 last season. Trainer Esau Hernandez will saddle the son of Rc Me Leaving You, who has earned $536,548 with Noe Castaneda aboard.

Saturday’s stakes program serves as more than a showcase—it marks the opening step toward the AQHA Challenge Championship Finals at Albuquerque Downs on October 17. With deep fields and proven runners across every division, the stage is set for a night where performances carry significance well beyond the finish line.

About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings, and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining. It features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.

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