(Houston, Texas - Saturday, May 11, 2024) - Sam Houston Race Park hosted a very exciting edition of the Sam Houston Classic(G2) on Friday, May 10 with Adrian Aleman’s A Famous Ribbon showing his fortitude, once again, at the “classic” Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards!

The 5-year-old son of One Famous Eagle exited a runner-up finish in the Remington Park Challenge Championship on April 7, which prompted three-time leading Sam Houston Race Park trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. to send him to Houston.

Breaking from post position four, under jockey Victor Urieta, Jr., the sorrel gelding dueled with Dm Moonpie, surging to the wire by a margin of a neck in :21.640 seconds, earning a 105 speed index.

“He made a few errors at the start but came through at the end," Urieta said following the race.

“We saw how well he ran at Remington Park, said Diaz.”Victor had ridden him twice last year and he did not disappoint.”

Bred by Weetona Stanley, A Famous Ribbon ($6.00) won his seventh race in 16 starts, earning $45,000 for the victory, boosting his career bankroll to $173,202.

Dm Moonpie held for second under Luis Vivanco. Bred by Donna Mushinski, the 5-year-old son of Moonin The Eagle is trainer by her husband, Kie. Shakers No Secret completed the trifecta, followed by Hes A Jet One, Jess The Leader andDm Preacher Man.

It was a disappointing seventh place finish by post time favorite San Lorenzo Jet who had earned $1,005,939 in 22 starts before making his first start at Sam Houston Race Park for owner by Rogelio Marquez, Jr.

Following the race, Marquez watched the replay with breeder Tim Rogers and both were disappointed in his last place finish.

“He was nervous in the paddock and looked like he was bumped out of the gate,” said Marquez. “He’ll go back to Louisiana and point to one of the stakes on Lee Berwick night at Delta Downs.

Since its first running in 1994, the Sam Houston Classic has boasted a stellar list of champions including Streakin Sin Tacha, The Louisiana Cartel and Kool Kue Baby as well as AQHA world championsTailor Fit and Jessies First Down.

Ladys Gotta Jet Impressive in the $50,000 John Buchanan Memorial at Sam Houston Race Park

Ladys Gotta Jet raced to her first career stakes win Friday when she defeated stablemate Destinychild by a neck in the $50,000 John Buchanan Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

Ladys Gotta Jet dueled throughout under jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr. to complete the 350 yards in 17.875 seconds, equaling a 90-speed index into a 6 mph crosswind. The 3-year-old daughter of champion Ec Jet One entered the Buchanan Memorial Stakes off an allowance win in her previous start at Sam Houston Race Park on April 19.

"John (Stinebaugh) called me and asked me to come to Houston," Andrade said. "She’s just gritty! We broke a little behind; she saw the competition and just went for it."

Zach Stinebaugh saddled the Pete Scarmardo Texas homebred for his dad, John, who was at Remington Park for the Heritage Place Futurity trials.

"She’s really fast out of the gate. I was excited that she drew the one hole, where she won her last race,” said assistant Zach Stinebaugh.

Out of the multiple stakes producing Lady Lilia by First Down Dash, Ladys Gotta Jet picked up $30,000 to increase her bankroll to $50,732. She has won three of nine career starts.

John Buchanan’s wife, Iris, daughter Amanda Buchanan Hamilton and her daughter Brix. presented the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes trophy to the winning connections.

Destinychild earned $10,000 for her second-place effort. Also trained by John Stinebaugh, the Texas bred daughter of champion sire Tempting Dash races for owner Candace Brown. Kirk Goodfellow bred Destinychild from the Mr Jess Perry mare Dashingfordestiny. She has earned $30,656 in nine starts.

Dm Tempting Mary, another daughter of Tempting Dash, finished a head back in the blanket-finish for third. Boks Dream Catcher, Bella Pyc, Dm Bella Star, Salud Mami and Eagle On The Horizon completed the field.

Longshot Tempting Alibi Scores First Career Stakes Victory in the $50,000 Leon Bard Memorial

A compact field of accredited Texas-bred colts and geldings kicked off the Friday night stakes action with Tempting Alibi winning his first career stakes victory in the $50,000 Leon Bard Memorial Stakes.

Ridden by Houston's leading jockey, Luis Vivanco, Tempting Alibi got upfront at first call and held on to the sway for the victory in :17.595 seconds. The sorrel gelding clocked a 98 speed index, and the slight upset over post-time favorite Gotagogh paid $22.00 to win on 10/1 odds.

The $30,000 winner's share of the purse increased Tempting Alibi's bankroll to $51,781. The 350-yard stakes race was the first out of the season for the son of champion sire Tempting Dash. He has lit the board five of seven starts with three career wins and two seconds.

Trainer Jose Sanchez saddled Tempting Alibi for owner Cruz Nava. Michael Amburn bred The three-year-old gelding in Texas out of the Shazoom mare Tinalicious.

"I just liked his bloodline and chose to buy him from that."

Cruz Nava says he plans to take Tempting Alibi to Retama Park next and probably Lone Star Park after that.

Fast-charging Gotagogh, piloted by Victor Urieta, Jr., was first out of the gates but got surpassed by Tempting Dash, placing second by a neck. The son of Favorite Cartel has four career wins with $137,872 in the bank. He was a finalist in three graded stakes races from his freshman campaign.

Breeder Bobby D. Cox of Texas sold Gotagogh to his current owner Triple Five for $150,000 in the 2022 TQHA Yearling sale. The three-year-old colt conditioned by Juan Diaz, Jr. is out of Signs Zoomer by Shazoom.

Mp Just Rip It ran third under Eliazar Vera. Jmg One Hott Eagle placed fourth and Lefty was fifth. Copper Pipes was scratched.

Bard’s daughters Shelly and Caryl presented the trophy.