(Houston, Texas - Friday, April 20, 2012) - The rain that pounded Houston Friday afternoon did not diminish the speed and tenacity of the winners of the $15,000 Texas Twister at Sam Houston Race Park. The popular 110-yard stakes was split into three divisions, with wins by two fillies and a track-record setting performance in the third and final division.

In the first of the three stakes, CC Miss Yin You scorched to the wire in :6.854 seconds under rider Luis Ramirez over a sloppy track. The 5-year-old daughter of Eye Yin You was bred in Texas by Cindi M. Colbath and races for A.D. Maddox of Houston. This was her first time at the distance of 110 yards and her first start on a sloppy track. CC Miss Yin You was declared the winner in the photo over post-time favorite Texas Kool and Shineys Magic T.

"She got away good," said winning trainer James Gerhards. "You have to at this distance. I had to wait for the photo; you can never guess."

CC Miss Yin You was the highest price winner of the evening, returning $30.20  to her supporters.

Little Eye Opener ($10.80) won the second division for owners J and B Rental and trainer Jeff Acuna. The 3-year-old daughter of Mr Eye Opener is undefeated this year, reeling off two wins at Louisiana Downs. Jockey Eleazar Guillen was the winning pilot, breaking cleanly and crossing the wire in :6.830.
 
"She's just a really nice filly and does everything right," said Acuna. "I've never seen a horse leave the gate the way she does. It's a thrill to come back to Houston and win a race."

Corona Mistress was second and defending champion, Executive Tone ran third.

The third division of the Texas Twister produced a new track record as The Hot List, trained by Yasmine Fierro blazed to the wire in :6.736. Luis Vivanco, last year's leading rider at Sam Houston Race Park, hustled the sorrel son of Streakin La Jolla quickly to the lead, drawing off by an impressive 1 3/4 lengths.  His time topped the track record of :6.807 for 110 yards set by XO Kate on August 23, 2008.

Eleazar Martinez, Sr. of San Antonio, accepted the trophy for the Texas Twister and was extremely proud of the 4-year-old.

"He wasn't ready to run as a 2-year-old," said his owner. "As a 3-year-old, he was more developed, but this year has been very special. He loves Houston; all his wins have been on this track."

This was the first stakes win for The Hot List, who was sent off as the favorite and paid $4.20 for the win. RC Grimm ran second with Jose Alvarez in the irons, followed by Special Yuma Warrior.

Two Horses Set New 300 Yard Track Records Tonight

The Texas Twister was far from the only excitement tonight at Sam Houston Race Park. Early in the card, in a driving rain, In My Prime, a 3-year-old colt bred by Bobby Cox, set a new track record for the distance of 300 yards. Trained by Roberto Madrigal and ridden by J.R. Ramirez, the bay son of Prime Talent surged to the wire in :15.293, besting the record set of :15.302 set by Calientes Wrangler on May 17, 2009.

In the following race, Joe Kirk Fulton's homebred Sweet Oblivion made a sweet return off an 11 month layoff to shatter the record set by In My Prime.  With Jose Alvarez in the irons, the 3-year-old daughter of Mr Jess Perry won her second career race in :15.101, earning a speed index of 110.

Live racing continues on Saturday, April 21 with 11 races highlighted by the $35,400 TQHA Claiming Derby.

Sam Houston Race Park's 2012 live American Quarter Horse meet will feature racing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. There will be one Sunday card on May 13; racing for the week of May 11-13 shifts to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The 27-day racing season will run through Saturday, May 19. For the full calendar of Sam Houston Race Park’s 2012 live race dates, visit www.shrp.com.