(November 29, 2006) - The draw took place today for Texas Champions Day, powered by Dodge, one of the biggest days of the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting. This showcase event for Texas-bred racehorses will take place on Saturday, December 2 with the first race set for 7:00 p.m.

Eight stakes are set for Saturday evening, highlighted by the $100,000 Star of Texas, which will be run as the eighth race (post time 10:02 CT), drew a competitive field of nine. Senor Amigo, owned by William O. Howard and trained by Scott Blasi, was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The 6-year-old was bred in Texas by Ken & Linda Quirk, who bred the 2005 winner of the Star of Texas, Dixie Meister. Senor Amigo has won his last two starts including the $100,000Texas Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Retama Park on October 14. Justin Shepherd, who recently finished second in the standings at Remington Park with 64 wins, has the mount. Blasi has another entrant in the Star of Texas, Upstream, a 3-year-old Open Forum colt, who captured the $125,000 Texas Stallion Stakes last May at Lone Star Park, but has been winless since that effort. John Jacinto will ride the 3-year-old, bred and owned by William S. Farish. Trainer Michael Stidham will saddle Sandburr, who was claimed by Stidham for $20,000 last April at Sam Houston Race Park. The 7-year-old will be making his 45th career start on Texas Champions Day.

Olmosta, owned by Anjo Racing, Inc and trained by Andy Konkoly, is the 3-1 in the $75,000 Martanza Stakes for fillies and mares. She has won six of her 18 lifetime starts including two stakes in the 2006 Retama Park meeting. Jeremy Collier will ride the 3-year-old filly and faces eight rivals in the one-mile stakes. Sweet Idea, trained by Bret Calhoun, has done her best running at Sam Houston Race Park and reunites with Cliff Berry, who picked up his 11th riding title at Remington Park on Tuesday, November 28. I B’s Halo is a 6-year-old daughter of Sunny’s Halo, who won the $49,000 Golden Triangle Stakes on November 3 for trainer Pamela Simpson. Jeffery Burningham, who is the current leading rider at Delta Downs, will ride.