Sam Houston: Calhoun firing on two fronts

Trainer Bret Calhoun signaled his intent to have a strong meet at Sam Houston Race Park back in November, when he went 4 for 4 with his starters on one of the first cards of the season. Since then, Calhoun has continued to win races at an above-average rate at the track to lead the current trainer standings by six wins over John Locke.

Calhoun has won 27 races from 86 starters this meet at Sam Houston, for a 31 percent win rate. He also has a division of horses at Fair Grounds, where he ranked fourth in the standings with 16 wins from 77 starters through Wednesday.

"We've been lucky enough to have good meets at both places," said Calhoun.

Calhoun has won three stakes this meet at Sam Houston and will be active in such races over the next few weeks. Sweet Idea will run in the $45,000 Jersey Village on Saturday night, while Power Surge, winner of the $75,000 Gentilly at Fair Grounds, is among the 3-year-olds Calhoun has under consideration for the two $125,000 divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes. Both will be run Feb. 17.

Calhoun hopes his barn's momentum will carry through the close of the Sam Houston season in April.

"We do have a large group that fit well there, and hopefully, we'll just keep winning," he said. "The titles, those are fun, but that's not something we're necessarily pointing for. We'll run the ones that fit there and we think we can win with there. The others that fit at Fair Grounds run there. Sometimes, we'll interchange them."

Calhoun began training in 1993, and had saddled 920 career winners through Tuesday.