(Houston, Texas - Saturday, June 14, 2025) - Sam Houston Race Park closed out its 2025 live racing season on Saturday, June 14 with perfect weather for its eleven Quarter Horse races. The well-attended evening featured highly competitive racing with impressive performances and joyous winner’s circle celebrations!

Dr Pepper 123 Unleases a Powerful Rally to win the $275,200 Sam Houston Derby (G3)

When trials were run for the $275,200 Sam Houston Derby on Thursday, May 22, many horseplayers had their mind made up on which of the 3-year-olds would emerge victorious three weeks later. The fastest qualifier Fast Flyer 123 blazed to victory in :19.875 seconds but had to settle for second in the 400-yard final completed on the closing night of the annual Quarter Horse racing season.

Mary Lou Zoeller’s homebred Dr Pepper 123 uncorked a powerful rally to overtake the heavy favorite and win his first graded stakes. Coming into the final as the seventh-fastest qualifier (:20.157 seconds), the gelded son of Chilitos advanced with authority under rider Noe Villatoro, to overtake Fast Flyer 123 by a neck in :19.885 seconds.

Villatoro was warmly congratulated by Zoeller and trainer J. W. Plunkett in the winner’s circle.

“About 75 yards from the wire, I felt I was close enough to pass Fast Flyer 123,” he explained.

Zoeller was beaming with pride as she accepted the trophy for the winner, out of the Shazooms Glory Dash mare My Glory Dash.

“It was so wonderful to see him run so well,” said Zoeller. “ I was a little nervous before the race, but you always hope.”

Plunkett credited his team, especially Will, for their dedicated care.

“I couldn’t see the break, but as he was finishing, he looked great,” he said.

Sent off at odds of 6-1, Dr Pepper 123 paid $14.40, $6.40 and $4.00 across the board. The victory was his third win from six efforts and the $110,080 winner’s check bumped his career earnings to $136,925.

Plunkett confirmed the gelding is paid into both the Retama Park Derby and Texas Classic Derby.

Sam Houston Race Park’s leading rider, Victor Urieta, Jr., rode Fast Flyer 123, a son of Flying Cowboy 123 bred in Oklahoma for trainer Oscar Constancio Jr., Fast Flyer 123 was a $450,000 purchase at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale by the Texas based owners Triple Five. Eagles Up completed the trifecta under rider Luis Vivanco followed by Celena Olena, Chill To The Bone, Shez Flyn, Georg, Butane, Mexican Kash and Beaux Tye.

Develop A Plan won the inaugural running of the Sam Houston Derby in 1994 and the list of noted champions includes Tailor Fit, Streakin Sin Tacha, Diamond Tres Seis, Moonin The Eagle and Eyesa Jess Jumpn.

The Grand Legend Continues Impressive Win Streak in the $50,000 Governors Cup Marathon (G3)

Highly accomplished distance champion The Grand Legend showed his mastery of the 870 -yard in the $50,000 Governors Cup Marathon. Bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LlC, the 9-year-old son of FDD Going Grand captured the $37,774 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge here last month and showed his brilliance again.

Despite just facing four rivals, he did not have as easy of a trip as he had in the Challenge but still won in :45.24 seconds, just shy of a new track record. Regular rider Noe Villatoro guided the intrepid Texas bred for Adan Guzman.

The victory marked the 18th win from 42 starts for owner James C. Whitener, and his wife, Linda,. Guzman urged them to consider stretching out their Texas bred two years ago after seeing how difficult it was for the riders to pull him up in shorter races. The Grand Legend won his 870 debut by a margin of 9 lengths in 2023 and has solidified his distance domination and has amassed lifetime earnings of $461,267.

Rockin J Running Horses’ Rock Ya Later, trained by Tammy Kay Johnson completed the exacta followed by Explosive Legend Into the Night.