(Friday, August 12, 2005) - Only nine of the ten fastest qualifiers took part in the exciting $49,800 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby tonight at Sam Houston Race Park. The field was reduced due to the late scratch of Winners Eyes.

Jose Vega guided Real Easy Okey ($8.40) to victory against the competitive field in a winning time of :19.98. Real Easy Okey is a three-year-old colt owned by Javier Lujan of Farr, Texas and trained by Francisco Vega, Jr.

“In the trials, I didn’t want to ask that much,” Vega recalled. “I was just trying to take a hold of him because he was kind of deep on the inside. Tonight, he was standing good in the gate. He left a little bit slow but he just ran away to the lead and kept it.”

Lujan was proud of his colt’s stakes win and his great success at Sam Houston Race Park. Real Easy Okey has never finished worse than second in all of his eight starts at the northwest Houston racetrack.

Kathys Star Quest placed second under regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo for trainer Frank Ramirez. As only one of three fillies in the field, she battled for first and was beaten by half a length at the wire. Kathys Star Quest is owned by Eusevio Huitron.

Alex Baldillez, Jr. almost caught his third win of the night but Tooting Otoole tired and dropped to third from his early lead. The filly is trained by Duane Hartsell and owned by Andy Horny and Jerry Hill.

Fastest qualifier and beaten favorite, Train Riding Cash, ended his three-race winning streak finishing sixth at 1-1 odds. The son of rising Quarter Horse sire, Shazoom, is trained by J. W. Plunkett and was ridden by Dewey Smith.

“He had an off night,” commented Smith. “He was a little hot and washed out and that takes a lot out of a horse. He just didn’t run like he can.”

Beda Feathers, First Comment, Train Ridin Cash, Shakem So Easy, Jess Braggin and Mb Boots Magic completed the finish.