Remington Park: Wicked Courage looks strong heading into Leo

Wicked Courage, who won nine consecutive races between 2012 and 2013, will get his 4-year-old season underway Saturday night at Remington Park in the Grade 1, $100,000 Leo for Quarter Horses. The 400-yard race for 3-year-olds and up also will mark the seasonal debuts of fellow Grade 1 winners Dm Streakn Thru Fire and Jody Pops Zoomer.

Wicked Courage was on an incredible run from September 2012 to July 2013, when he put together nine straight wins while racing at Will Rogers Downs, Remington Park, and Ruidoso Downs. During his streak, he captured five stakes, including the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby and the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby. The Leo will be his first start since Sept. 1, when he ran seventh as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 1 All American Derby at Ruidoso.

Cody Jensen is the regular rider of Wicked Courage, a Texas-bred son of the Mr Jess Perry stallion Captain Courage. Luis Villafranco trains the gelding for Andrew T. Smith.

Dm Streakn Thru Fire will be making his first start since finishing third, beaten by a half-length, Dec. 29 in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park. Prior to that race, he won the Grade 1 Zia Park Distance Championship. G.R. Carter Jr. has the mount for trainer Cody Joiner.

Jody Pops Zoomer won the Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park in his last start Nov. 29.

Early post at Sam Houston

Sam Houston Race Park will have a special early post of 2 p.m. Central on Saturday to accommodate a marathon card of 17 trial races for the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity. Last year, the race was worth $452,800. This year’s finale will take place April 19.

Each of the trials Saturday will be run at 330 yards, and each has a purse of $3,000. The horses with the top 10 qualifying times will advance to the finale at Sam Houston. Post for the final trial race Saturday is 9:43 p.m.

Trey Wood trained last year’s Sam Houston Futurity winner, Especially Tres, and he will be the most active horseman on Saturday’s card. Wood has starters in 14 of the trial races. Other trainers who will be well represented Saturday include Toby Keeton, with starters in 10 races, and Jorge Barrera and Adrian Huitron, who each will have starters in nine races.

Most of the 2-year-olds in the trials will be making their career debuts Saturday.