Colonial Colony heaviest hitter in Maxxam

Colonial Colony, who upset the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at 62-1 at Churchill Downs in June, drew post 6 when seven horses were entered for Saturday night's $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park. Entries for the race were taken Wednesday.

The Maxxam, to be run over 1 1/8 miles, is one of three stakes on the card Saturday. It is supported by the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff and the $50,000 Sam Houston Sprint Handicap.

Larry Melancon has the mount on Colonial Colony for trainer Dallas Stewart.

The Maxxam also drew Wally's Choice, upset winner of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, and stakes winner Alumni Hall, who invades from Fair Grounds for trainer Neil Howard. Colonial Colony and Alumni Hall were both scheduled to van into Houston on Friday, according to officials with Sam Houston.

The complete Maxxam field, from the rail with riders, is Toratora, Amanda Crandall; Alumni Hall, Robby Albarado; Wally's Choice, Bobby Walker Jr.; Goosey Moose, Terry Stanton; Intelligent Male, Tracy Hebert; Colonial Colony; and Verdict's Peak, Adrian Ramos.

Post time for the Maxxam, which will go as the seventh of 10 races, is 9:36 p.m. Central.

The first stakes on the card is the fifth, the Distaff. Native Annie is the 120-pound highweight in the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew a field of 11. Carlos Marquez Jr. has the mount on Native Annie, who is undefeated at Sam Houston for trainer Michael Stidham.

Others of note in the Distaff are Academic Angel, who will be ridden by Donnie Meche, and Flager, who will be ridden by Albarado.

Two Down Automatic has been assigned top weight of 120 pounds in the Sprint Handicap. He faces a field of 10 in the seven-furlong race, including Philadelphia Jim, Artemus Sunrise, and Charming Socialite.

* There is a free, $2,500 online handicapping contest tied into the Maxxam at www.shrp.com. Maxxam night is one of the richest programs of the meet at Sam Houston behind Texas Champions Day and Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Day.