HOUSTON, TX – Sam Houston Race Park opened its 2026 Quarter Horse meet with a strong two-night showing, posting significant gains in both on-track and off-track handle while launching the inaugural Texas Breeders Futurity trials.
The 2026 Quarter Horse meet opened Thursday night with a nine-race program, marking the return of live racing in Houston and producing a strong start at the windows.
Handle figures from both nights reflected that momentum. On Thursday, on-track wagering totaled $57,717, a 30 percent increase from the 2025 opener, while off-track wagering climbed to $420,492, up 32 percent.
Friday’s numbers showed even more growth, with $194,820 wagered on track and $668,230 off track. That represented another year-over-year gain, with on-track handle up $111,925 (135 percent) and off-track wagering rising $313,840 (88.6 percent) for the evening.
The opening night program saw several barns and riders make early trips to the winner’s circle. Trainers Jose Martinez and Francisco Perez Jr. each recorded two wins, while jockeys Raul Hernandez Jr. and Oliver Martinez also doubled up.
Chilitos was the only sire to record multiple winners on Thursday, represented by Miss Chilitos in Race 5 and Celena Olena in Race 8.
TEXAS BREEDERS’ FUTURITY TRIALS
Friday’s program shifted the spotlight to the inaugural Texas Breeders Futurity trials, featuring 15 heats at 330 yards with a $10,000 purse per trial. The final, set for May 9, will carry a purse of $541,000 for the ten fastest qualifiers.
A total of 145 Accredited Texas-bred 2-year-olds competed in the trials, with Flying Cowboy 123 dominating the sire standings. Six of the ten finalists were sired by the champion stallion, including the three fastest qualifiers.
The remaining four qualifiers were sired by Kiss My Hocks, Apollitical Blood, Carters Cartel, and Tres Seis, each with one contender.
Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal led all trainers with three qualifiers, including the fastest, while Santiago Villaseca and Rene Talamantes each sent out two finalists.
Jockey Victor Manuel Urieta Jr. qualified four finalists, while Jorge Javier Garcia and Rosendo E. Pina Garcia each secured two mounts to the final.
Cowboys Flying delivered the top performance of the night, stopping the clock in :16.834 while posting a 94 speed index in the ninth trial. Breaking fifth under Victor Manuel Urieta Jr., the gelding quickly took control at first call and drew off to win by three-quarters of a length.
Bred by Dr. Tommy Hays, the $53,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate is owned by Double J Racing. He earned $6,000 in his career debut.
Trial nine proved especially productive, producing three of the ten finalists. Among them was Apollitical Cowboy, the second-fastest qualifier, who stopped the clock in :16.964 with a 90 speed index.
Bred by JP Quarter Horses, the only breeder to qualify more than one runner, Apollitical Cowboy is owned by Armando Luis Castellanos and Alfonso Rangel, who purchased him for $50,000 at last year’s TQHA Yearling Sale.
Trained by Santiago Villaseca and ridden by Jorge Javier Garcia, the colt finished second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Divina Tres Seis. The effort came in his third career start following a fifth-place finish in last month’s Louisiana Downs Futurity (G2).
Out of the High Rate Of Return mare Too Kool To Return, Apollitical Cowboy has a record of 1-1-0 from three starts with $23,871 in earnings. His female family includes Grade 1 winner Beduinos Rusty and world champion Whosleavingwho.
Third-fastest qualifier Reverzcowgirl won the 14th trial by 1 1/2 lengths in :16.983, earning a 90 speed index. A $60,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale, the Melissa Tiner homebred filly is trained by John Stinebaugh and was ridden by Gilberto Linares. She is out of the winning Tres Seis mare Miz Kay, who is from the family of graded stakes winner Makeala.
One of the most anticipated juveniles in the field, Whoopie Cowgirl, also secured a spot in the final with a :17.079 effort. Already a Grade 2 winner, she previously posted the fastest qualifying time and captured the $313,000 Louisiana Downs Futurity-G2. The daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 now has a record of 2-1-0 from three starts with $145,854 in the bank.
Time, Horse — Sex/Age — Breedline — (Sale Price) — Owner — Breeder — Trainer — Jockey
:16.834 – Cowboys Flying, g. 2 (Flying Cowboy 123-Cartels Lady, Carters Cartel) – $53,000 TQHAY
Double J Racing – Dr. Tommy Hays (TX) – Ramiro Barajas Villarreal – Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
:16.964 – Apollitical Cowboy, c. 2 (Flying Cowboy 123-Too Kool to Return, High Rate of Return) – $50,000 TQHAY
Castellanos, Luis Armando and Rangel, Alfonso – JP Quarter Horses (TX) – Santiago Villaseca – Jorge Javier Garcia
:16.983 – Reverzcowgirl, f. 2 (Flying Cowboy 123-Miz Kay, Tres Seis) – $60,000 RNA TQHAY
Melissa Tiner – Melissa K. Tiner (TX) – John A. Stinebaugh – Gilberto Linares
:17.023 – Jp Tempting Jewel, f. 2 (Kiss My Hocks-Th La Jolla Seis, Tres Seis) – $17,000 RNA TQHAY
JP Quarter Horses (Johanna Perez) – JP Quarter Horses (TX) – Santiago Villaseca – Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
:17.059 – Coronas First Cowboy, c. 2 (Flying Cowboy 123-Coronas First Diva, Corona Cartel) – $62,000 TQHAY
Antonio Mercado – Paragon Farms LLC (TX) – Marc E. Jungers – Christian Ramos
:17.079 – Whoopie Cowgirl, f. 2 (Flying Cowboy 123-Tacarosie, Tac It Like a Man) – $35,000 TQHAY
Denis I. Moran – Mark E. Rigby DVM (TX) – Ramiro Barajas Villarreal – Jorge Javier Garcia
:17.095 – Natural Flyin Cowboy, c. 2 (Flying Cowboy 123-Just Another Natural, Furyofthewind) – $50,000 TQHAY
Maria Gonzalez – Louis A. Malechek III (TX) – Bobby Muniz Pena – Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
:17.101 – Jc Canelo, g. 2 (Apollitical Blood-Tf Fearless Runaway, Sir Runaway Dash) – $70,000 RNA TQHAY
Denis I. Moran – Jaime Cardenas (TX) – Ramiro Barajas Villarreal – Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
:17.128 – Mister Carter, g. 2 (Carters Cartel-Game Dreamer, Game Patriot) – $23,000 TQHAY
AA Farms, LLC – Ricardo Angel Ayala (TX) – Rene Talamantes – Rosendo E. Pina Garcia
:17.166 – Divina Tres Seis, f. 2 (Tres Seis-Looking Executive, First Down Dash) – $27,000 TQHAY
Emmanuel Villarreal – John McKee (TX) – Rene Talamantes – Rosendo E. Pina Garcia
The ten fastest qualifiers will return May 9 at Sam Houston Race Park to contest the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity final. In addition to the purse, a $20,000 Nominators Award will be distributed among the top four finishers, with $10,000 to the winner, $5,000 to second, $3,000 to third, and $2,000 to fourth.
For more information, please visit SHRP.COM or call 281-807-8700
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.
By Leann Noguera
