Keener Wins Third Straight Title as Top Trainer at Remington Park

Sam Houston Race Park will close out its 2025 live racing season on Saturday, June 14 with eleven Quarter Horse races, beginning at 6:30 pm (CT). The biggest night of the meet will feature nine stakes, including the running of the $700,000 Sam Houston Futurity(G2).  In addition, Sam Houston Race Park will honor the meet’s leading owner, trainer and jockey.

Pricy Top Qualifier Fast Flyer 123 Favored in the $275,200 Sam Houston Derby(G3)

Four 400-yard trials for the $275,200 Sam Houston Derby were completed on Thursday, May 22. Fast Flyer 123 blazed to victory in :19.875 seconds under jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. in the final trial of the evening. The colt by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the Mr Jess Perry mare  Uptowne Babe, drew post two for Saturday’s final.

Purchased for $450,000 at the 2023 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale by Triple Five, a group of five couples from the San Antonio area, Fast Flyer 123 was bred in Oklahoma by Sam W. Greene and is trained by Oscar Constancio, Jr. He won just one of seven starts last year and will be ridden in the final by Urieta, who won last year’s Sam Houston Derby aboard Fire Cowboy. He has been installed as the 5-2 favorite.

Trainer Jose Sanchez will saddle third fastest qualifier Eagles Up, a son of One Famous Eagle, bred in Louisiana by Jumonville Farms. The runner-up in the $322,000 Evangeline Downs Futurity last December at Evangeline Downs is the highest earner in the field with $79,223. The sorrel colt finished second by a neck to Fast Flyer 123 in a time of :19.962 seconds. Luis Vivanco, who won the 2011 and 2022 editions of the Sam Houston Derby, has the call and will break from post position nine at odds of 9-2.

“This is a nice horse,” said Sanchez. “He ran well at Evangeline, so we were not surprised to see his effort in the Derby trial. Luis stood him in the gates on Tuesday, and we believe the outside post will help him.”

Young horseman Zackary Stinebaugh owns and trains Georg, a gelding by Valiant Hero, bred in Oklahoma by William E. Smith. Stinebaugh purchased him last fall at Lone Star Park and was impressed with his three efforts earlier this year at Remington Park prior to his trial victory here in :20.173 seconds.

“He’s been running well all year and stepped up big in his trial win,” he explained. “He’s been thriving here in Houston and is a beautiful horse, the epitome of gorgeousness! It’s exciting that I own and train him!”

Georg will break from the far outside post under jockey Gilberto Linares at 20-1.

Develop A Plan won the inaugural running of the Sam Houston Derby in 1994 and the list of noted champions includes Tailor Fit, Streakin Sin Tacha, Diamond Tres Seis, Moonin The Eagle and Eyesa Jess Jumpn.

The Sam Houston Derby will run as the tenth race on the card with an approximate post time of 10:36 pm.  The winner will earn $110,080. The field, in post-position order, including jockey assignments and odds is as follows:

1. Celena Olena (Rodrigo Vallejo, 6-1 

2. Fast Flyer 123 (Victor Urieta, Jr.,),  5-2

3. Dr Pepper 123 (Noe Villatoro, 10-1  

4. Shez Flyn (Oliver Martinez), 4-1

5. Butane (Raul Hernandez, Jr.), 15-1

6. Chill to the Bone (Oscar Andrade, Jr),  20-1

7. Beaux Tye (Eddie Sanchez), 6-1

8. Mexican Kash (Claudio Aguilar), 12-1 

9. Eagles Up (Luis Vivanco), 9-2

10. Georg (Gilberto Linares), 20-1

Sam Houston Race Park will present the following stakes on Saturday, June 14, beginning in race 3.

Eight Distance Specialists Entered in the $50,000 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes

The first stakes of the Saturday card is the $50,000 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes. The race is named in honor of the late Quarter Horse trainer Jesse Yoakum,  a strong supporter of Texas racing and had tremendous success at Sam Houston Race Park.  He was a jockey prior to beginning a training career that spanned 30 years. Yoakum trained Sam Houston Futurity (G1) winner Beduinos Rusty, Sam Houston Classic (G2) winner A Glint Of Gold, 870-yard specialist, The Field Cricket, Governor’s Cup Marathon (G3) winner Doctor Streakin, and Barnmaster Sprint Stakes (RG3) champion Turfinator.

The field includes Byron Gardner’s homebred Eye Will Decide who won this stakes in 2023 and was the runner-up here last year. Adan Guzman trains the 7-year-old son of Majestic Cartel. The multiple-stakes winner will be ridden by Froylan Ramirez, who will break from post position eight.

Kenneth A. Hammond’s Determined  is in search of his third consecutive score for trainer Juan Johnny M. Hernandez with jockey Luis Vivanco guiding the 4-year-old son of One Famous Diamond from the rail.

 GJR Rooster, who ran second to the incomparable distance specialist, The Grand Legend in the Q-Racing Distance Challenge here on May 17,  is also in field. Ali Rivera has the call for owners Richard D. Young, Joe David Yates and Zack Stinebaugh, who trains the 4-year-old gelding by 2017 Sam Houston Futurity champion This Is An Eagle. 

Yoakum’s wife Sharon, son Jerry Lee Yoakum along with his wife, Rosslyn and their daughter Jaycee will make the trophy presentation.

Texas Breeder Pete Scarmardo Goes for His Third Win in the $50,000 Willie Hickman Memorial

Prominent Texas breeder and owner Pete Scarmardo has run in the $50,000 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes each year since its inception. He won the 400-yard stakes for accredited Texas-breds in 2022 with His Time To Deal  andlast year with Jess The Leader.

Scarmardo will try for his third trophy Saturday evening with  another homebred, 5-year-old Hes A Jet One, trained by John Stinebaugh. The son of Ec Jet One triumphed in eight of his 28 career efforts and returns to Sam Houston Race Park following a third in the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic(G2) last month. Former SHRP leading rider Ali Rivera will pilot the 8-5 morning line choice.

Other contenders include Rigoberto Aguilar’s RA Coronado, winner of the $54,000 Leon Bard Memorial here on May 17 and Top Cowboy, a son of Flying Cowboy 123 owned by Rodrigo Gonzalez, and Leviram Racing, LLC.

The stakes is named in honor of Willie Hickman, a longstanding member of the racing office. The native of Red Rock, Texas was involved in many roles in the racing community, from training racehorses to serving in a variety of duties in the Sam Houston Race Park racing office for over 20 years. As stall superintendent, and stakes coordinator, Hickman had lasting relationships with horsemen in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing. He also did an excellent job as jockey agent to rider Alfonso Lujan, who won over 2,100 races prior to his retirement in 2018. His daughter Cheyenne Hickman Bourgeois and family members including Shyrl O’Banan Hopkins will make the presentation to the winner.

Ten “Super Sprinters” Vie in the $50,000 Sam Houston 250 Stakes

The $50,000 Sam Houston 250 Stakes attracted ten accredited Texas-breds with the winner most likely to be decided in a photo finish! 

Believe in Perry, trained by John Stinebaugh has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning line choice. Owned by Henry E. and Mimi Brown, the 4-year-old son of Mr Jess Perry will cut back to 250 yards for the first time in his career in search of his fifth career win. He competed in the $50,000 Bob Moore(G2) at Remington Park in April and exits a fifth-place finish here in last month’s Sam Houston Classic(G2). Ali Rivera will ride.

P and J Racing Ltd.’s homebred Cowgurl Up makes her first start since running in the $216,000 Retama Park Derby last July. The 4-year-old mare by Flying Cowboy 123 posted a bullet work here on May 16 and will break from the far outside post under rider Raul Hernandez, Jr. On June 1, 2024, Cowgurl Up set a new 350-yard Track Record of :17.193 seconds, which still stands this year.

Another notable is Ima Chili (PT), a 3-year-old gelding by Texas graded winner Chilitos who completed the exacta here in last month’s Leon Bard Memorial Stakes. Jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr. has the return call for trainer Zackery N. Rios.

Defending Champion Leavinematthebar Returns in the $50,000 Sam Houston 550 Stakes 

Once again, a very solid group of nine older accredited Texas-breds will compete in the $50,000 Sam Houston 550 Stakes, nicknamed the “Beltway Special.”  

Defending champion Leavinematthebar  made his 550 yard debut a winning one last year for breeders and owners James Hrabovsky & Leann Nalls. The 5-year-old son of Power Jam, now trained by Brian Stroud, went on to win the Gary Baber Memorial Stakes at Retama Park and finished second in their TQHA 550 Stakes. Ali Rivera will guide the sorrel gelding from post two at odds of 3-1

Ontherocks, who is a past winner of this stakes, is also in the field for owner Sarah Huskey and trainer Gilberto Gonzalez. Sired by A Revenant, Ontherocks is trained by Esteban Rubio, who will give a leg up to rider Luis Vivanco. Another respected Texas-bred, Donna Mushinski’s Dm Preacher Man, trained by her husband Kie, was the runner up in 2024 and will be ridden by Eliazar Vera.

The Grand Legend Faces Five in the $50,000 Governors Cup Marathon (G3)

Highly accomplished distance champion The Grand Legend headlines the field in the $50,000 Governors Cup Marathon (G3) to be contested at 870 yards. Bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LlC, the 9-year-old son of FDD Going Grand not disappoint as the prohibitive favorite in the $37,774 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge here last month. He will make his 43^rd career start as the 2-5 choice Saturday evening for trainer Adan Guzman  with regular rider Noe Villatoro breaking from post four. It was Guzman who suggested

that owner James C. Whitener, and his wife, Linda, consider stretching out their Texas bred. He won his 870 debut by a margin of 9 lengths in 2023 and has solidified his distance domination with 17 wins and lifetime earnings of $431,267. 

Other stakes winners in the field include Rockin J Running Horses’ Rock Ya Later, trained by Tammy Kay Johnson  and  Explosive Legend, owned and trained by David Bustamonte.

Ten Fillies and Mares Entered in the $50,000 Miss Sam Houston Stakes

The $50,000 Miss Sam Houston Stakes attracted ten accredited Texas-bred fillies and mares who will compete at the distance of 330 yards. Ladys Gotta Jet, the 5-2 morning line choice, is another quality filly bred and owned by Pete Scarmardo. Trained by John Stinebaugh, the 4-year-old mare by Ec Jet One has won three of her four starts at Sam Houston Race Park and will be ridden by Ali Rivera. 

Celebratingtheeagle returns to Texas off a third-place finish in the $111,000 Old South Derby last month at Delta Downs. Trained by Janessa Muniz, the filly sired by 2017 Sam Houston Futurity winner This Is An Eagle, will make her 11^thcareer start for owner Jesus Molina. Raul Hernandez, Jr. has the call and will break from post position two. 

Javier Lujan’s Embers Time is a two time stakes winner with her most recent victory in the $54,00 John Buchanan Memorial here on May 17. Veteran rider Rodrigo Vallejo has the call aboard the daughter of PYC Prize Time for trainer Martin Rodriguez. Kevin Hogan’s homebred Hogans Hero, a filly by Valiant Hero qualified for the 2024 Sam Houston Futurity and ran second in the Gillespie County Futurity last July. Luis Vivanco will ride the bay filly who is closing in on the $100,000 earnings mark.

Father’s Day Weekend Promotions

In addition to the racing action, Sam Houston Race Park has plenty in store for racing fans on the final night of the Quarter Horse racing season!

Shoppa’s – John Deere Day at the Races

Lawn Mower Races after Races 2, 3 & 4 with the final following race 6

Bourbon & Whiskey Tasting

From 6:30 to 9:30 pm on the Clubhouse Level

15 Types of Bourbon and Whiskey to select from including a Specialty Cocktail – Smoked Old Fashion

Jockey Foot Race

We know how fast they are when they are in the saddle; members of the Sam Houston Race Park jockey colony will show their competitive spirit on foot after the seventh race

L Conejo surged past favorite Jjs Sweet and Sassy to win the $29,000 North Star State Derby by a head Wednesday at Canterbury Park. The 3-year-old Minnesota bred quarter horse covered 400 yards in 20.083 seconds under jockey Fernando Fonseca-Soto. L Conejo is owned and trained by Haley Hobbs. He paid $6.20 to win.

“[L Conejo] has gotten more mature,” Fonseca-Soto said. “Last year he was not focused. I think he will keep getting better.”

L Conejo recorded his second win while making his 11th career start. He made three starts at Remington Park this spring. “He’s been running 400 yards and been doing really good,” Hobbs said. “He’s super calm, easy to train, loves his job.”

The gate crew had their hands full loading Holy Dynasty into the starting gate before the 300-yard North Star State Futurity but once loaded, the 2-year-old Minnesota bred did not disappoint his owner and breeder Dan Kjorsvik. Jockey Alfredo Triana, Jr. guided Holy Dynasty to a 3/4 length win in the $29,000 race, passing favorite Sophey late and holding off a charge from Del Cartel, trained by Hobbs. Holy Dynasty, trained by Patrick Swan, paid $13.40 to win.

“The gate crew did a great job,” Kjorsvik said. “These horses are two-year-olds but a lot of them are pretty green. I can’t thank the gate crew enough for their professionalism. He’s got a big stride and I think as he gets older, he’s going to keep developing.”

Handle on the nine-race card was $1,204,322. Racing at Canterbury Park resumes Saturday at 5 p.m.

Pedro Barbizan Santiago Leite’s Miss Isao Jqm will go after her richest stakes win of the meet when she faces New Mexico invader and graded stakes winner Chicka Boom Baby and the multiple stakes placed filly Beach Walk in the running of the $75,000 Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes at 350 yards on Saturday night at Los Alamitos. 

A full field of 10 distaffers will race in the Abigail, which is the final leg of the Pick 6 sequence, which will feature a carryover of $32,390. With the new money to be wagered on Saturday, the total pool in the Pick 6 should be over $120,000. 

Miss Isao Jqm will also be going after her third stakes victory of the year after scoring in the Dashingly in January and then the Virginia Hyland in April. The 6-year-old Brazilian-bred mare has been a standout in the local stakes division, finishing second or better in all four of her starts at that level plus also running second in a strong allowance event on February 1. 

The 350-yard distance is right up Miss Isao Jqm as all her success this season has come at that distance. Trained by James Glenn, Jr. and ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, Miss Isao Jqm does enter this race after running second to the brilliant Grade 1 winning 3-year-old filly Shaken Goin On in the Grade 2 Miss Princess Handicap on May 4. The Brazilian won the Ginger Hyland by a neck over One Sweet Duck and the Dashingly by a half-length over Temple Court. One Sweet Duck and Temple Court will both look to avenge those defeats in the Abigail.

Robert Driggers and Ben Ivey’s Chicka Boom Baby arrives with five wins and $273,147 in her outstanding career. Previously trained by Wes Giles and conditioned locally by Albert Valles, Chicka Boom Baby won the Restricted Grade 2 New Mexico Classic Futurity in 2023 and has finished second in last year’s Zia Derby and third in both the (RG1) New Mexico Filly & Mare Championship Stakes in 2024 and Grade 2 Lou Wooten & Syndey Valentini Stakes in 2025.

Gentry Farms’ Beach Walk was third to Shaken Goin On in the Oaks final and in her most recent start race second in the La Pacifica Stakes, both efforts coming against 3-year-old fillies. She’ll be facing older mares for the first time. 

The field will also feature two other sophomore fillies in Call Her Perfect and VGK Zigfield Follies. In the Mode, who faced males in the A Ransom last year, and La Famosa Vaquera, who was third in the Miss Princess, will complete the field.