Sam Houston track report

Proven Cure, who earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure for winning a starter allowance on Oct. 28 in his last start, heads a full field of stakes-quality rivals in the featured ninth race Friday night. The 6 1/2-furlong allowance carries an optional claiming price of $50,000, and other starters in the 10-horse field include stakes winners Term Sheet, The Niner Account, Leo's Last Hurrahy, Explosive Count, Record Assembly, and Czech Mate.

Proven Cure, who was entered in a turf sprint at Fair Grounds for Thursday, should go favored here on the heels of his 3 1/4-length win in a six-furlong starter. That race was one of three that made up the International Jockey Championship at Lone Star Park on Oct. 28. Proven Cure tracked the pace in second that day, then overtook the leaders under Jerry Bailey, covering six furlongs in 1:08.40.

Roman Chapa will ride Proven Cure on Friday for trainer John Locke. Proven Cure was second in a Retama Park allowance Sept. 25, beaten a neck by eventual stakes winner High Strike Zone.

The feature is one of three allowances on the card. The eighth race also drew a handful of stakes winners, including Lady Sonya, Showmetothevilla, and Frilly Fun.

* After this week, there will be no live racing at Sam Houston until Jan. 7. Simulcasting will continue on a daily basis from Dec. 19 to Jan. 6, except on Christmas.

* Apprentice Anne Sanguinetti continues to score on double-digit winners. Her latest was an $89 winner, Alakayfa, in the sixth race last Saturday at Sam Houston. Sanguinetti's first winner at the meet was Grey Foot, who paid $117. She was also aboard $61 winner Go Leroy Go.