A Slew Of Stakes Winners Headline Sgt Pepper Feature On Saturday

Led by a group of top local stakes winners in Mayor Humdinger, SG Jacob Jay, SM My Valentine, and Slatedtoshine, a talented field of seven 3-year-olds lines up for Saturday night’s $30,000 Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap at 350 yards.

Mike Casselman’s homebred Mayor Humdinger, who returns following a thrilling runner-up effort in the Governor’s Cup Derby where he finished second by a nose to Brother Ray, tops the field as he looks for his second career stakes win. The Mpshinning gelding earned his biggest victory in the 2025 Governor’s Cup Futurity and has compiled a record of four wins from seven starts with a field-best $149,215 in career earnings. Known around the barn for his easygoing nature, the gelding always saves his energy for race night.

“This horse just has a super mind... In the mornings he’ll get up and do his job and then just lie down in his stall,” Casselman has said of Mayor Humdinger’s laid-back demeanor. “But when it’s time to run, he applies himself.”

Trainer Adan Farias sends out a formidable pair, starting with SG Jacob Jay, a Favorite Cartel colt owned by Shane Giles. A full brother to AQHA Champion Tarzanito, SG Jacob Jay won the James Smith Memorial Handicap earlier this season and qualified for the Winter Derby final after winning his trial. The colt is named in honor of lifelong horseman Jacob Jay Giles, who passed away in October 2023.

“My dad asked me to see this horse through,” owner Shane Giles shared after the colt's James Smith victory. “This horse is special. It’s amazing what this horse has done for us.”

Farias also saddles SM My Valentine, owned by Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres. The Kiss My Hocks gelding won the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity as a juvenile and kicked off his 3-year-old stakes campaign by finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Winter Derby—one spot ahead of SG Jacob Jay. SM My Valentine and SG Jacob Jay then met in the James Smith, with the Giles-owned runner taking the victory. Born on Valentine’s Day, SM My Valentine now faces his stablemate for the third time as he searches for his first stakes win of the season.

The Schvaneveldt Sisters and Mark Smith’s Slatedtoshine won the La Pacifica Handicap against fillies in May and most recently finished sixth in the Governor’s Cup Derby. She will be pursuing her fourth win of the season.

Angela Aquino has enjoyed a lot of success with her Paint Horses at this meeting and sends out a pair in Saturday's feature. Carla Akers and Randy Perkins’ Turnpike Jammer makes his local debut following a strong campaign in Texas and Oklahoma. The Paint Horse finished second in a pair of futurities last season and boasts $91,806 in career earnings. Chiseled N Chrome is a familiar local name with eight starts this year, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Vandy’s Flash Handicap.

Double Bar S Ranch’s Accuzation, who ran in the El Primero Del Ano Derby in the spring and most recently earned his maiden diploma for trainer Elena Andrade, completes the field.

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