(Thursday, August 11, 2005) - Two exciting stakes will take place this weekend at Sam Houston Race Park. On Friday, August 12, the ten fastest 3-year-old qualifiers will square off in the $48,240 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby. Three of the runners have winning streaks on the line, including Winners Eyes, the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Bred by Jerry Windham and trained by Bobby Martinez, who has won two stakes this meeting, Winners Eyes has won his last five starts. He was the second fastest qualifier in trials run on July 28. Alvin “Bubba” Brossette was in the irons for his victory two weeks ago and has the return call on Friday evening.

Fastest qualifier, Train Riding Cash, is another talented 3-year-old with three consecutive wins heading into the final. The son of rising Quarter Horse sire, Shazoom is trained by J. W. Plunkett and will be ridden by Dewey Smith. He was installed as the second betting choice at 7-2, but Smith has a great deal of confidence in the sorrel gelding.

“We’re going to win,” declared Smith following the draw. “This horse was in the Retama Derby with most of these horses but in the finals he got upside down in the gate and they had to scratch him. He is usually a good gate horse. That night wasn’t his fault; they were in the gate a long time and something from on the end rattled him. So in the trials for this race, he was in with pretty much the same horses and he won his trial.”

Jess Braggin, a daughter of Mr Jess Perry, is yet another runner with a three-race win streak on the line. Trained by Ryan Basham, the chestnut filly has won each of her starts at Sam Houston Race Park and will reunite with rider Martin Rubalcava.

The TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby will be run as the eighth race of the card. Singer songwriter, Neil McCoy will perform in the final Bud Light Texas Music Explosion concert series following live racing.

Primetime Dream will be the horse to beat in Saturday’s $111,520 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity. The 2-year-old son of Royal Shake Em has been impressive this year, winning six of his nine starts. Trained by James V. Harris, Primetime Dream has captured stakes at Retama Park, Gillespie and Manor Downs and will be seeking his fifth consecutive win in the TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity. He will be the 9-5 morning-line favorite and will be ridden by Manuel Garcia. Jo Edna, a 2-year-old filly from the barn of Toby Keeton and fastest qualifier, has run well this summer at Sam Houston Race Park and is the second betting choice at odds of 5-2.

“She’s doing really good, commented rider Jerry Lee Yoakum, who was aboard when she won her trial on July 30. “She is a good filly. She’s ready.”

Post time for Saturday night’s card is 7:00 p.m. The TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity will run as the eighth race of the evening.