CORONAS CANDY MAN TOPS THE FIVE QUALIFIERS FROM NIGHT TWO FOR THE $732,650 SAM HOUSTON FUTURITY (G2)

HOUSTON, TX – The field is set for the $732,650 Sam Houston Futurity (G2).  Five exceptional juveniles clinched their berths on Friday, May 7 and the remaining five were determined in 11 exciting 330-yard trials on the second night of competition.

It was a spectacular showing for trainer Adrian Huitron saddled the fastest qualifier in Friday night’s trials as well as this evening. In the ninth of 11 trials,  Florentino Leon’s Coronas Candy Man broke his maiden in convincing fashion under rider Nestor Duran, covering 330 yards in :17.037 seconds. The track was fast and the colt earned a 95 speed index into an 16 mph head wind.

Bred in Iowa by Robert and Sandra Brown, the son of Jess Good Candy out of the Corona Cartel  mare Follies and Corona was a $35,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale Purchase. He posted two works at Retama Park before making his debut ,surging from his far outside post to win by a margin of 1 ¾ lengths.

"This is my first Jess Good Candy colt and he has done everything right since we began training him,” said Huitron. “We weren't sure how he would handle the lights, but he really impressed me."

One race before, El Gansito, a colt by The Louisiana Cartel, set the second-fastest clocking of the night, with a driving finish also under Duran. His time of :17.191, earned him a 86 speed index. Bred in Texas by Filimon Saucedo, El Gansito, was making his third career start, having qualified to the $302,010 Harrah’s Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs and finishing third in the April 3 final. Purchased privately by owner Arturo Esquivel, Huitron shared the challenges he had faced in preparing the colt for his 2-year-old campaign.

“This horse has been a handful since he was a yearling,” explained Huitron. “We worked hard with him and  had to get him comfortable in the gates. He broke very well tonight."

Huitron has never won an edition of the Sam Houston Futurity, but will have four chances to take home the trophy this year with Apollitical Crystal and Dr Toola who qualified Friday night.

El Gansito held off a determined rally by Lucky Dice, who also qualified for the final in a time of :17.204 seconds for owner J and J Stone Company, Inc. Trained by Joel Huitron, the colt by One Sweet Jess was the runner-up in the Harrah’s Futurity and was ridden this evening by Manuel Gutierrez.

Here is a link to the ten qualifiers who will return for the richest running of the Sam Houston Futurity on Friday, May 28.  The winner will earn $292,660 and join a distinguished list of past champions, including 2014 AQHA Champion 2-year-old colt, Kiss My Hocks; Azoom; Snowy Alibi, Ivan James, Especially Tres and This Is An Eagle. 

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston.  The Park offers a variety of attractions including a Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the racetrack, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club.  For more information on upcoming live racing, shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.

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Photos:  Coady Photography