Sam Houston: Bilirrubina's last Beyer Figure stands out in Spring

Bilirrubina will have a Beyer Speed Figure advantage on her rivals Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park, when she makes her two-turn debut in the $50,000 Spring. The one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies is the final stakes of the Houston meet that closes on Monday.

Bilirrubina put up the field’s best career Beyer Figure in her last start, when she earned an 89 for a runner-up finish in a first-level optional $25,000 claimer at Sam Houston on March 4. She was the favorite in the seven-furlong race and rallied. For the move to two turns, Bilirrubina gets pedigree support from her sire, Election Day, who won his maiden over 1 1/4 miles. Benny Landeros has the mount for Pozo de Luna and trainer Kari Craddock.

Portales is the most accomplished member of the Spring cast as a stakes winner. Her score came against males in September, when she won the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity at six furlongs at Assiniboia Downs. Portales has raced once since, and finished third to dominant winner Dancinginthecircle in the $100,000 By the Light at two-turns at Delta Downs on Jan. 4.

Charlie Smith trains Portales for Terry Propps. Rohan Singh has the mount on the filly, who last year placed in two other stakes at Assiniboia.

Other leading Spring contenders include Legal Mind, who won a first-level allowance last out for Tom Durant, the leading owner at Sam Houston. Gerardo Mora, the current leading rider at the meet, has the mount for trainer Jack Bruner.

Sam Houston will have free admission Saturday.