(Thursday, August 27, 2009) - Sam Houston Race Park will host the Grade 1 $321,900 Sam Houston Futurity and the Grade 2 $121,700 Sam Houston Derby on Friday, August 28.

The clear-cut favorite for the $321,900 Sam Houston Futurity is Ivansbay, a two-year-old gelding who has reached the winner’s circle in four of his five career races, with the last four being consecutive wins. Ivansbay (9-5) finished as the top qualifier in trials for the $129,420 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity and went on to win the stakes race on Saturday, June 13. Ivansbay is trained by Frank Cavazos, who will be saddling three horses in the 10-horse field, and is owned by Charles Forbes, Jr.

“There’s not much more I can say about this horse,” commented Cavazos. “I think his record speaks for itself. I think his biggest competitor will be one of my other horses, Eye Got The Blues, but as long as Ivansbay breaks clean this time, he should take the win.”

Ivansbay will be ridden by jockey J.R. Ramirez, who has guided the horse in all five of his races to date.

The field will go a distance of 400 yards and feature: Sixes Wisdom, A Noble Jess, Acorn, La Regal Choice, Fame 555, Mr Celeb Jess, Im A Royal Design and Miss Snow Royale.

Also featured on Friday’s live race card is the $121, 700 Sam Houston Derby, with Charal Kid (3-1) being the morning line favorite. Charal Kid’s last stakes race, the $59,458 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby on July 25, ended with a dramatic photo finish featuring Its A Black Oak and Charal Kid taking it all the way to the wire. Its A Black Oak ended up winning by a nose in a time of :19.937. Charal Kid then went on to win his next race, a 440-yard dash on Friday, August 14. The three-year-old colt will be chasing his second consecutive win on Friday night, ridden by jockey Santos Carrizales, trained by Eusevio Huitron and owned by Malinche Cattle Co., Inc.

The remainder of the 10-horse field, going a distance of 440 yards features Miss Sin Tacha, Million Maid, Shesa Lady, Zimalue, Own The Waterfront, Chasing The Cheese, Cool Shazoom, First Down Mr Jess and Fleet Hawk.

Topping the live race card for Saturday night, the final evening of the 2009 American Quarter Horse meet at The Park, will be the $15,000+ Sam Houston Distance Derby and the $15,000 + Blue Bonnet Stakes.

The Sam Houston Distance Derby, the 8th race of the night, will feature eight horses running a distance of 870 yards. The morning line favorite is Coups De Ville (2-1). The three-year-old gelding, trained by James Gerhards, ridden by jockey Gaspar Garcia and owned by Dennis Maddox, will be looking for a win after finishing second in his last outing, the $18,750 Woodlands Stakes on July 31.

The remainder of the field features DM Traffic, Dont Mess With Bart, Tsunami Wind, Manifold, Realquiet Effort, Im Willie Jazzed and Primetime Apollo.

The Blue Bonnet Stakes, the 9th race, will showcase 10 horses sprinting a distance of 400 yards. Executive Looks (3-1) will be the favored horse in this stakes race and will be ridden by jockey Rodrigo Vallejo. The three-year-old filly has finished second in her last two races, the $55,000 Ancira Ford Classic Stakes on July 24 and the $102,600 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs on July 4. Executive Looks is owned by Rogelio Rangel and trained by Joe Bryan Rangel.

The remainder of the field will feature La Jolla Suspect, Newarcos Bambina, Shadaisy 123, Rump Shakin, Send Me A Perry, Southern Pretense, Eye Be Swift, Tearful and Dashin Chick.

In addition to the live stakes races, Vice President of Racing Eric Johnston will award David Alvarez the 2009 Jockey of the Meet award following the 4th race and Bobby Touchet the 2009 Trainer of the Meet award following the 5th race of the night. The Park will award the 2009 Owner of the Meet follow live racing events.