Sam Houston opens Friday; 2 stakes are set for Saturday

Sam Houston Race Park opens Friday with eight races beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST.

The weekend action continues Saturday at 2 p.m. with the first two stakes of the track's 2024 Thoroughbred season. The $75,000 Darby’s Daughter and $75,000 My Dandy, at 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track, are part of the Texas Stallion Stakes Series, a set of races for progeny of nominated Texas-based stallions. The series, run at Sam Houston and Lone Star Park, honors notable Texas Thoroughbred fillies and colts and geldings.

The 43-day Thoroughbred meet concludes on Saturday, April 7. A full schedule of post times and events is posted on the Sam Houston website.

Seven fillies will enter the starting gate for the Darby’s Daughter. The morning-line favorite is Too Much Kiki, a daughter of Too Much Bling out of the Action This Day mare, Soft Music. Bred by Danele Durham and owned by Mansfield Racing, she has won two of her three starts, beginning with a three-length score in the Texas Stallion Stakes Pan Zareta Division last June at Lone Star Park.

Seven 3-year-old colts and geldings will compete in the $75,000 My Dandy, also at 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

J. R. Caldwell, who is ten wins away from his 1,000th career win, has a solid chance with Unbridled Bling, who has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line choice for breeder and owner Eric Schmitz. The colt, out of Here’s The Deal by Half Ours, made three starts at Remington Park and will be ridden by Rene Diaz.