BH Inxs takes Sam Houston Futurity for Quarter Horses
BH Inxs won Friday’s $731,650 Sam Houston Futurity for Quarter Horses at Sam Houston Park against two rivals, a race run as a non-wagering event after a rash of failed drug tests involving at least six finalists earlier this month.
Sam Houston officials announced Thursday that six horses tested positive for the breathing medications albuterol and clenbuterol through hair follicle tests taken after time trials on May 7 and 8.
The track did not name the trainers of the six horses involved, but Sam Houston Futurity qualifiers trained by Jose Garcia, Adrian Huitron, Angel Sanchez, and Rodolfo Sanchez were withdrawn from the final on veterinary reasons, according to the official chart. Huitron had three horses withdrawn for veterinary reasons, while the other trainers each had one horse scratched.
The track said in its Thursday statement that the trainers involved would not be allowed to enter horses for races on June 4 or later. Those four trainers do not have horses entered on June 4, but Huitron, Angel Sanchez, and Rodolfo Sanchez have horses entered on the June 3 program.
Blood and urine samples taken by Texas Racing Commission officials after the time trials showed no abnormalities, the track said in a statement.
More extensive hair-follicle testing conducted by commission officials on May 15 revealed that six horses had tested positive for the banned medications albuterol or clenbuterol, two were deemed “inconclusive”, and two were negative, the statement said.
The racing commission informed track officials of the results of the hair-follicle tests on Wednesday, according to Sam Houston. A second hair-follicle test was conducted Wednesday on the eight horses that tested positive or had inconclusive tests.
The race was run for purse money only.
BH Inxs, a filly ridden by Jorge Garcia, ran 330 yards on a sealed and fast track to win by a length over Hock It to You in 16.50 seconds. The first two finishers are trained by Juan Diaz Jr. Lucky Dice finished third for trainer Roberto Madrigal.
Apollitical Crystal, trained by Huitron, was listed as a trainer scratch.
This is the second time this spring a major Quarter Horse futurity has been affected by clenbuterol.
San Lorenzo Tay, the winner of the $926,500 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity at the Oklahoma City track on April 17, tested positive for clenbuterol. Later in April, Remington Park stewards summarily suspended Kelly Heltzel, the trainer of San Lorenzo Tay.