(Thursday, August 20, 2009) - Sam Houston Race Park will host five top-graded stakes races on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22.

Friday night’s racing fans will enjoy 10 live races, with the Grade 3 $35,000 + Governors’ Cup Marathon Handicap topping the card. The morning line favorite is Carny Streakin Dash (5-2), who won his last two races, both of which were stakes races, at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The five-year-old gelding will be ridden by jockey Gaspar Garcia, who has secured his place as one of The Park’s top three jockeys of the 2009 American Quarter Horse Meet.

Carny Streakin Dash, owned and trained by J.D. Anderson, will have a tough match in Blue Ribbon Dash. The eight-horse field, going a distance of 870 yards, will also feature Big Bad N Brown, City Class, Sheza Bright Wood, Heza Marquette Maker, Fast Eddy and Wood Climber.

For Saturday night’s live race card, the $57,000 TQHA Claiming Futurity will offer the largest purse of the night. So Kool (3-1), a two-year-old gelding, is the favored horse for this stakes race despite taking third in the trial races run on Thursday, August 6. The fastest qualifier was Goldin Ease, who finished the 350-yard in a time of 18.065. So Kool will be ridden by jockey Alfonso Lujan, is trained by James Gerhards, and is owned by A.D. Maddox.

“This gelding did well in the trials, even though he wasn’t the fastest qualifier,” commented Lujan. “I think he matches up very well with this field of horses.”

The remainder of the 10-horse field, going a distance of 350 yards, will also feature Executive Runner, DM Zoom By Six, Miss Royal Contend, Silo Contendere, New Corona, Time For A Windfall, JA Caliente Express and Silent Raindrop.

Also featured on Saturday will be the Grade 3 $23,595 TPHBA Maturity. This race features seven horses, ages three and up, going a distance of 350 yards. Morning line favorite is PF Chief Runnin Bear (5-2), a stakes-only competitor looking for his second straight win. The remainder of the field features Savonas Beauty, Kiss The Money Honey, Could Be A Paint, Corys Doll, Awesome Judy and Treasured Form.

The Grade 2 $26,295 Colors of Houston Futurity features JNL Champagne Lineage (9-5) as the favorite. The 11-horse field will run a distance of 350 yards. The field features Judys Rocket To Cash, O J Okey, Allysa, Sparking Native Rose, JMD Simply Awesome, Slick Angel, Grand Diamonds, Aintscaredaflyin, He Will Smashm First and Six Point.

Rounding out the stakes races for Saturday will be the Grade 2 $50,000+ Sam Houston Classic. The favorite is Mr Jess Perrier (7-2), a three-year-old gelding ridden by leading jockey David Alvarez. Mr Jess Perrier is owned by Tommy Hays and Joe Gutierrez and trained by Bobby Touchet. Mr Jess Perrier finished second in the $58,410 Bayer Legend Texas Derby Challenge on Saturday, July 11, and is ready to come back and claim his spot in the winner’s circle.

The 10-horse field, going a distance of 440 yards, will feature It’s A Black Oak, Royce Rogers, Mr Perry Dash, Streakin Illusively, Illegal Memories, Hyrdrostatic, Diamond Tres Seis, Zoomin Winner and Miss Kips Streakin.

In addition, to live racing events, The Park will hold the Inaugural Shine & Show Bike Event presented by 107.5 The Eagle. If your passion is motorcycles, the Shine ‘N Show event will offer an exciting evening featuring appearances by the Hooters Girls, a bike wash featuring the Brick House Girls courtesy of Brick House Tavern + Tap, live music from Gene’s Addiction: A KISS Tribute Band and 70s/80s rock cover band Stagger, along with shaded patio seating, misting fans, $2 draft beer from 5 – 9 p.m., hot food off the grill, free giveaways, a variety of vendor booths, and $250 Best Sport Bike Contest and a $250 Best Cruiser Bike Contest! Tickets are $10 per person and include parking, live racing admission and entry into the Best Bike Contest.