(Saturday, July 16, 2005) - The $15,500 Miss Houston Stakes was the highlight on the Saturday evening card at Sam Houston Race Park. Eleven Texas-bred fillies battled for a victory in the Saturday feature but Si Puede was the first to complete the race after exploding from the gate. Regular rider Jose Vega guided her to victory in a time of :15.53 for trainer Dave Correll and owner Lukin Gilliland of San Antonio. The three-year-old filly also won the $14,750 Gulf Coast Stakes on July 2 and now has two stakes wins for the current Quarter Horse meeting.

Si Puede made her racing debut last summer at Sam Houston Race Park and won two races here before shipping to Sunland Park. Both outings at the northwest Houston racetrack have earned her trips to the Winner’s Circle this summer. She held an impressive lead tonight in the 350-yard contest. Vega and Correll both were very pleased with her trip this evening

“I really enjoy riding her and every time she goes out on the track, she’s real honest,” comments Vega. “She was ready to get out of the gate and fired out as soon as they kicked the gate. ”

Correll adds, “She is real honest on the track. She’s rank in the paddock and rank around the barn so we just learned to live with it. We have her paid in the Sam Houston Derby and we’ve just been racing her along and she just seems to improve every trip.”

Julies Lil Jess ran second with Dewey Smith aboard for trainer Heath Taylor and owner Roger Knight, Jr. The Duane Hartsell-trained Perks Prime Plus completed the trifecta with Juan Vazquez at the controls for owner Andy Horny.

Sent off as the post time favorite, Si Puede paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.60 across the board. Lady Eye Opener, First Place Hipty, Flor de Lirio, Fast Jeans, Runaways Dancer, Kito Me, Royal Vogue and Streakin Attitude completed the order of finish.