(July 27, 2006) - Two-year-old American Quarter Horses will take center stage Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park in the finals of the $343,305 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1). The prestigious event is comprised of yearlings purchased in the 2005 TQHA Yearling Sale.

Trials were held on July 15 and it was a repeat of the owner/trainer connections as Streakin Ilusively, owned by Lou Phillips of Houston and trained by Janet Van Bebber, was the fastest qualifier. Martin Rubalcava rode the son of Streakin La Jolla to victory in the fourth trial of the evening, crossing the wire of the 350-yard contest in :17.706. Last year, Van Bebber and Phillips also had the fastest qualifier with Shazoomer, who topped his 2-year-old rivals with a time of :17.880.

“We’ve liked this colt from the very beginning,” said Van Bebber. “He was one of my favorites in the sale and Lou (Phillips) has been patient and allowed me to bring him along. He broke his maiden impressively with enough time for him to come into this race fresh. He had a bullet work of the day preparing for tonight; you just couldn’t ask for a horse to do any better. It’s early yet; things may still happen. You have to pray that he pulls up good, but to date, he’s been a very sound horse. I’m excited.”

Rubalcava will remain aboard Streakin Illusively in the final and will break from post position four in Saturday’s ninth race.

Van Bebber also saddled the second fastest qualifier, Shakeatea, a Royal Shakem colt owned by Pete A. Scarmardo, who won his trial in :17.874. Juan Vazquez has the call on Shakeatea.

Bridled Lightnin, owned by Warner Croft and trained by Bobby Moore, Jr., is the 3-1 second choice. The bay filly has won each of her four career starts, including her trial in which she stumbled out of the gate and still won by two lengths. Moore is please to have rider Jeff Jerman aboard in the finals.

“Jeff and I are very good friends,” said Moore. “He’s been breaking all our babies; Shake Em Fever, Streaking South Tong, Sambaso Jet. I’ve been telling him for a long time that he’s doing all the work; he should be riding them. Finally, I convinced him that he needed to come ride for me and it’s been great.

The winner of Saturday’s final will receive $152,771, with prize money paid to each of the ten fastest qualifiers. The TQHA Sale Futurity caps an eventful weekend with the TQHA Yearling Sale set for Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 and four stakes carded on the Friday evening program.

Past TQHA Sale Futurity Winners 350 Yards

*Track Record for 350 Yards: Hotdoggin July 27, 2001 :17.360

2006 Finalists and their 2005 Yearling Sale Purchase Price