The final night of the 2025 Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse live racing season offered quality racing and thrilling finishes throughout the 11-race program. In addition to the two graded stakes on the final program, seven additional features, at a variety of distances, showcased plenty of talented sprinters and distance specialists.
Master Reigns Upsets in the $54,000 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes
A very exciting finish by Master Reigns resulted in an upset in the $54,000 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes. The six-year-old son of Dash Master Jess, owned and bred by Richard A. Hawkins and trained by Marc Jungers, crossed the wire on :45.851 under jockey Raul Hernandez, Jr.
“We gave him a little vacation after Sunland Park and brought him back to our farm in New Mexico,” said Jungers. “He had a couple of solid works; I can’t say we were confident about our chances, but we are awfully proud of him!”
Last year’s winner, Bryon Gardner’s homebred Eye Will Decide, was second, followed by Gjr Rooster, owned by Richard Young, Joe David Yates and Zack Stinebaugh, ran third with Determined completing the superfecta.
Master Reigns was overlooked at 18-1 in the wagering and rewarded his supporters with a $38.60 win ticket.
His record now stands at five wins from 31 starts and earnings of $116,083.
This was the third running of the stakes, named in honor of Quarter Horse trainer Jesse Yoakum, who ran horses at Sam Houston Race Park from 1994 through his death in 2019. Yoakum’s wife Sharon, son Jerry Lee along with his wife, Rosslyn and their daughter Jaycee were on hand to make the trophy presentation.
Hollywoode Takes the $54,000 Willie Hickman Memorial in Front Running Fashion
Sam Houston Race Park also honored Willie Hickman, a longtime member of the Sam Houston Racing office in the $54,000 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes.
The winner of the 400-yard features was Hollywoode ($9.80), a 4-year-old colt by Hawkeye, who bested eight rivals from gate-to wire in :19,961 seconds with Louisiana-based rider Yaidel Rodriguez in the saddle. Leobersi Perez purchased the Bobby D. Cox homebred for $33,000 at the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale.
Trainer Fernando Lopez was on hand for the colt’s fourth career victory.
“We are very happy with the win,” said Lopez. “I am thankful to all the people who made this happen: the owner, jockey and my team. We came from Louisiana and are very proud of this horse!”
Prominent Texas breeder Pete Scarmardo won the first two editions of the Willie Hickman Memorial but had to settle for second on Saturday night with Hes A Jet One. Sent off as the post time favorite, the 5-year-old son of Ec Jet One, trained by John Stinebaugh, finished second by a neck under rider Ali Rivera.
Top Cowboy, a 4-year-old son of Flying Cowboy 123, was third, followed by Deagree.
Family members including Shyrl O’Banan Hopkins made the presentation to the winner.
Driving Finish By Ladys Gotta Jet in the $54,750 Miss Sam Houston Stakes
It was another solid finish by Pete Scarmardo’s homebred Ladys Gotta Jet in the $54,750 Miss Sam Houston Stakes, for accredited Texas-bred fillies and mares.
The 4-year-old daughter of Ec Jet One out Lady Lilia, also bred by Scarmardo, won her second race of the 2025 Sam Houston meet, covering 330 yards in :16.865 seconds under rider Ali Rivera. Trainer John Stinebaugh and his son, Zackary, who also trained several runners on the card, joined Scarmardo for the trophy presentation. Ladys Gotta Jet ($7.00) won $ 32,850 for the victory, increasing her career earnings to $147,336.
“Always glad as a breeder and owner when your horse gives a good effort and wins a stakes race,” said Scarmardo.
The favorite on the tote board, Jess Louisiana Girl finished second by a neck with Claudio Aguilar in the saddle. The filly by Chilitos returned off a second-place finish in the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes here on May 17. Embers Time winner of that stakes, completed the superfecta.
OnthRocks Wins Another Edition of the $54,000 Sam Houston 550 Stakes
A very solid group of nine older accredited Texas-breds competed in the $54,500 Sam Houston 550 Stakes.
Onthrocks, the 2023 champion returned in fine form to get the job done once again for owner Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio.
Luis Vivanco rode the 6-year-old gelding by A Revenant, to victory in a final time of :27.538 seconds over the fast track, besting another quality Texas-bred Dm Preacher Man by a half-length.
Donna Mushinski’s Dm Preacher Man, also sired by A Revenant, trained by her husband Kie, was ridden by Eliazar Vera. The handsome gray ran fourth in last year’s edition of the Sam Houston 550 Stakes. Lz King Of The Kings, an 8-year-old son of Ethics Aside, completed the trifecta under jockey Oscar Andrade, with Thrill And Fury finishing fourth.
Ima Chili Zooms to Victory in the $55,000 Sam Houston 250 Stakes
The $55,000 Sam Houston 250 Stakes always provides an exciting finish and this year’s edition was no exception! In his second start of the meet Darrell L. Hooper’s Ima Chili emerged victorious in a speedy :13.031 seconds under jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr.
“That’s a fast little horse,” said Hooper. “I believe in his ability, especially at 250 yards.”
Bred in by Sarah Huskey, the son of Chilitos is trained by Zackery Rios. Sent off as the third betting choice in the field, Ima Chili paid $10.20 for the win.
Goodtime In Texas, a 4-year-old filly by Duponte ran a game second with Jose Herbert in the saddle followed by Cowgurl Up, a P & J Racing Ltd homebred and You Look Famous.
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