Sam Houston Derby Trials Preview

Emmanuel Villareal's Fire Cowboy, a multiple graded stakes winning son on Flying Cowboy 123, is one of 48 3-year-olds entered in Thursday's 350-yard Sam Houston Derby (G3) trials at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Thursday's five trials will meet in the $100,000-added Sam Houston Derby final on June 15.

Fire Cowboy made his sophomore season debut with a half-length victory in a 250-yard, $23,500 open-condition allowance dash at Sam Houston Race Park on May 4. The sorrel gelding earned $225,733 from eight starts during his 2-year-old campaign, and he scored victories in the 350-yard, $131,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Lone Star Park, and the 400-yard, $238,000 Evangeline Downs Futurity (G3) in Louisiana.

Fire Cowboy drew post 5 and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr. for trainer Juan Diaz Jr. in the second trial.

Jess A Salty Candy, a son of Jess Good Candy racing for Stacy Barr and Carol Addison, is coming off of a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner RJ Having Fun, in the April 29, $169,000 Remington Park Derby (RG1) for Oklahoma-breds. John Stinebaugh trains the bay gelding.

Jess A Salty Candy drew post 2 and will be ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr. in the fifth heat.

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