(Saturday, June 25, 2005) - Two-year-old American Quarter Horses took center stage Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park as trials were held for the $345,015 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1). There were a total of 11 trial races on the card for yearlings purchased in the 2004 TQHA Yearling Sale.

Shazoomer, owned by Lou Phillips of Houston and trained by Janet Van Bebber, was the fastest qualifier. Alvin “Bubba” Brossette rode the son of Shazoom to victory in the eleventh and final trial of the evening, crossing the wire of the 350-yard contest in :17.880. Purchased for $35,000 in last July's sale, Shazoomer was making the third start of his career, having finished second in his previous two races at Delta Downs.

“He drew the inside post in the MBNA Challenge at Delta (on May 22) and ran second,” said Van Bebber. “We were pleased to draw the more advantageous outside post tonight and are on Cloud 9 after seeing his performance. We’ll just hope for a good draw for the finals.”

Rider Gilbert Ortiz and trainer Bobby Martinez teamed up with the second fastest qualifier, Wokatee, a 2-year-old filly bred in Texas by Kay Holbein, won her trial in :17.910. The bay filly was purchased at the 2004 TQHA Yearling Sale for $15,200 by Salvador Villareal. Wokatee is also sired by Shazoom, whose son Azoom won the TQHA Sale Futurity last year and a total of 11 races for the year. Ortiz rode her to her previous victory at Delta Downs on June 11 and was impressed with her win this evening.

“I rode her at Delta where she won by 2 ½ lengths going 300 yards,” said Ortiz. “Today she was a little nervous in the gates, reared up one time and kind of stumbled leaving there. But, she picked up the pace and did it easy.”

The ten fastest qualifiers will return to Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, July 9 to compete for a record purse of $345,015. For the first time in the history of the TQHA Sale Futurity, there will also be a $38,335 TQHA Sale Futurity, also to be contested on July 9.