(Houston, Texas - Sunday, April 7, 2012) - Tonight’s feature at Sam Houston Race Park was the $66,300 Sam Houston Maiden Classic featuring the ten fastest qualifiers from trials run on March 22. Country Flying Chick captured the 350 yard stakes with an impressive burst of speed from the far outside under rider David Alvarez.

The 4-year-old mare was bred in Texas by Joe M. Flores and was the second-fastest qualifier in her trial win. Trained by Jorge Luis Barrera for owner Mariel Guerra, Jr. of Alton, Texas, the daughter of Country Chicks Man raced as a 2-year-old at Las Palmas before making her career debut in 2010 at Gillespie Fair.

Jump Down Azoom, a gelded son of Azoom trained by Wendy Garcia, was the third fastest qualifier and ran a very strong race this evening. Rider Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr. was aboard as the 3-year-old broke strongly and had the lead until the final surge of Country Flying Chick.

"We have always believed in this mare," said Barrera. "She had a great break and came flying at the end; this race was an even better effort than her trial."

J C Senior Seis was the fastest qualifier in trials for owner Eleazar Martinez, Sr. and trainer Yasmine Fierro, The son of Tres Seis finished third in the final under  Luis Vivanco, the leading rider from the 2011 Sam Houston Quarter Horse meet.

Country Flying Chick earned a speed index of 99 as she covered 350 yards in :17.549. Sent off at odds of 8-1, the mare returned $19.20 for the win and picked up a check for $26,520 in her sixth career start.

Tinys Easy Sunshine, who was the seventh fastest qualifier, was fourth under rider Jerry Lee Yoakum, followed by Zoom in On It, Mandalay Moon, Latest Dive, Azoom Cash Flow, Down Thru Time and Im a Feature Girl.

Firstprizegol Fastest Qualifier in the $35,400 TQHA Claiming Derby Trials

Sam Houston Race Park hosted trials for the TQHA Claiming Derby on Thursday, April 5. The trials lived up to their "claiming" title as three of the ten fastest qualifiers were claimed and will race for new owners in the April 21 final.

Firstprizegol, owned by Jose Farias, was the fastest qualifier, covering 350 yards in :17.633. Ridden by Carlos Castro for trainer Cleto Martinez, Jr, the Texas-bred son of Gol to Go had not run since last August 25 at Retama Park.

Second-fastest qualifier Ocean Bank (:17.739) was ridden by Alfonso Lujan and was claimed by Juan Manuel and Laura Vidal.

For further information on each of the top ten qualifiers to the TQHA Claiming Derby, click here.