SAM HOUSTON DERBY QUALIFIERS

COURTESY OF SHRP AND STALLIONESEARCH.COM


Trials were run earlier in the evening for the $114,400 Sam Houston Derby. The third trial produced the fastest qualifier as My First Passion crossed the wire of the 440-yard trial in :21.603, the fastest time of 28 runners.

My First Passion, a California-bred son of First Down Dash, is trained by Heath Taylor for owner Jose Cantu. Rider J. R. Ramirez had the mount.

"He’ll need a little schooling in the gate; he needs to stand a little bit better. This is a horse I have always had high expectations of. He qualified for the All American Futurity last year and won the Firecracker Futurity. He loves the distance of 440 yards; he’s a really strong closer. There are some awesome horses in the final: Snowy Alibi, Happy Streaker, but if he gets away good and they don’t run over him, he’s got a huge shot.”

The finals of the Sam Houston Derby will be run on Saturday, September 8.

Race: SAM HOUSTON DERBY-G2

Track: SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Trials: AUGUST 25, 2007
Final: SEPTEMBER 8, 2007
Purse: $35,000--ADDED
Age: 3-YEAR-OLDS
Distance: 440 YARDS

Horse Sex Sire-Dam, Dam Sire Time Owner Breeder Trainer Jockey

My First Passion c. First Down Dash--Strawberry Chick, by Chicks Beduino :21.603 Jose Cantu Vessels Stallion Farm, LLC/M. Wells (CA) M. Heath Taylor J.R. Ramirez

Happy Streaker f. Streakin La Jolla--Happy Hugger, by Dash For Cash :21.680 Miguel Chapa Lee Ray Hayes, Jr. (LA) Alex Villareal Rodrigo Vallejo

Snowy Alibi g. This Snow Is Royal--Ladys First Alibi, by First Down Dash :21.797 D.D. Lightsey Narciso Flores (TX) Janet Van Bebber Alfonso Lujan

Diamond Tres Seis g. Tres Seis--Meddin Mischeif, by Dash For Cash :21.849 Ray & Mercy Hinklin Double Bar S Ranch, LLC (TX) M. Heath Taylor Gilbert Ortiz

Reba Cleata f. Dashing Cleat--Reba Taylor, by Doluino :21.931 Gerardo "Jerry" Hernandez William Mike Taylor (TX) Humberto Chavez Jose Vega

A Special Stoli g. Stoli--Special Lady Ryon, by Ronas Ryon :22.007 Javier Marquez Muller Racing, LLC (NM) Alex Villarea Abdel Torres

Leader Bored g. Special Leader--Drifting Shawne Bug, Shawne Bug :22.073 Keith Renfro Keith Renfro (TN) Janet Van Bebber Alfonso Lujan

Fish For Dreams g. Fishers Dash--Beamer Dreamer, by Raise A Secret :22.087 Southwest Racing Partners, LLC Fakri Family Partnership (CA) John Favre Gilbert Ortiz

First Signing g. Streakin La Jolla--Secret Signing, by The Signature :22.133 First Signing Syndicate Joe Kirk Fulton (TX) Joel Garza Gilbert Ortiz

Running Away g. Runaway Winner--Jennifer Cash, by Dash For Cash :22.139 Jerry Windham Jerry Windham (TX) Thomas Zarate Rodrigo Vallejo

Trial Notes: My First Passion won the final of three trials by three lengths over A Special Stoli to post the fastest qualifying time.