Flashy trial winners meet in Sam Houston Futurity

From opposite sides of the gate, Apollitical Crystal and Hock It to You will meet for the first time in Friday’s $731,650 Sam Houston Futurity at 330 yards, each starting after stellar recent performances.

Apollitical Crystal won her career debut in a division of the Sam Houston Futurity trials on May 7, finishing in a rapid 16.91 seconds. One of four fillies in a field of 10 in the Sam Houston Futurity, Apollitical Crystal breaks from post 9 for trainer Adrian Huitron and jockey Nestor Duran, both in the midst of outstanding seasons at Sam Houston Race Park.

Hock It to You won a division of the trials on May 7 in 16.98 seconds, and will start from the rail on Friday. From the stable of leading trainer Juan Diaz Jr., Hock It to You, a gelding by Kiss My Hocks, is the most experienced runner in the field, having finished second in the $477,200 Oklahoma Futurity at 300 yards at Remington Park on March 20.

Hock It to You won a trial for the Sam Houston Futurity from post 2, so an inside draw may not be a hindrance to the gelding as it would for other runners with less racing experience.

The five fastest qualifiers from trials on May 7 and 8 advanced to the final. The 2020 Sam Houston season was canceled because of the pandemic. The 2019 Sam Houston Futurity was worth $459,700 and was won by Trump My Record, the champion 2-year-old gelding that year.

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Huitron has five qualifiers on Saturday, including Coronas Candy Man, who in his debut set the fastest qualifying time of 17.03 seconds in the May 8 trials, and trial race winner El Gansito, who was third in the $302,010 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity at 300 yards on April 3.

El Gansito won a Sam Houston trial on May 8 in 17.19 seconds, beating Lucky Dice by a head. Lucky Dice was second in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity.

Earlier on the Sam Houston program, Inaugurator, second in the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs last September, starts in the $112,000 Sam Houston Classic at 440 yards for older horses.

First post time at Sam Houston is 6:45 p.m. Central.