Sam Houston: Ms Riptide vs. stablemate in Distaff

Ms. Riptide will try to turn the tables on stablemate Zoomin On By when she makes her second start of the year Saturday night in the $30,000 Merial Distaff Texas Challenge for Quarter Horses at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 400-yard race is restricted to fillies and mares, with the winner to earn a berth into the Grade 1, $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championships at Los Alamitos on Oct. 29.

Zoomin On By edged Ms Riptide by a neck in the fastest trial for the Distaff on March 19. It was the first start since October for Ms Riptide, who last year placed in two Grade 3 races at Sam Houston. Both horses are trained by Judd Kearl, who leads the standings at Sam Houston.

“Both mares are tough,” he said. “They could turn the tables on each other on Saturday.”

◗ The Grade 3, $65,000 West Texas Derby for Quarter Horses is Saturday at Sunland Park in New Mexico.