Slyng Schott top qualifier for Sam Houston Futurity

Slyng Schott will bring the fastest qualifying time into the Grade 2, $440,600 Sam Houston Futurity, one of three Quarter Horse stakes on Saturday night’s card at Sam Houston. The 330-yard race is the track’s richest race.

The Grade 3, $191,900 Sam Houston Derby and the $44,060 Sam Houston Juvenile will support the Sam Houston Futurity.

Slyng Schott took quick command of his 330-yard trial April 6 at Sam Houston, as he was up by a length at the first two points of call. He ultimately won by a neck while covering the distance on a fast track in 16.91 seconds. Slyng Schott defeated Moment of Fury, the second-fastest qualifier with a time of 16.93. There were 13 trials for the Sam Houston Futurity.

Slyng Shot will break from post 5 under Esgar Ramirez, a two-time winner of the All American Futurity.

“We knew from the beginning that he was a special colt,” trainer Abelardo Flores Jr., told media officials with Sam Houston. “Even on the [walking machine] he moved better than any of our 2-year-olds. He’s been training well and we are looking forward to the final.”

Slyng Schott races for Alfredo Garza. He is a February foal by Ivory James and was bred in Oklahoma.

Moment of Fury will break one stall over, from gate 6.

Washta Magnolia was the fastest qualifier for the Sam Houston Derby, winning his 350-yard trial in 17.66 seconds. Manuel Gutierrez has the mount for trainer Jorge Lopez.

Reed dead at 62

Rodney Reed, a prominent Quarter Horse trainer based in Oklahoma, died April 23 after “health complications,” according to a press release from Remington Park. He was 62.

A moment of silence for Reed will be held before Thursday night’s races at Remington.

Reed won 17 races at a Grade 1 level. He was a three-time winner of Remington’s richest race, the Heritage Place Futurity, and he also won three runnings of the Remington Park Futurity. Reed accounted for 10 training titles at Remington – a record for the Quarter Horse meet in Oklahoma City. He is a member of the track’s Hall of Fame.

Reed launched his career in 1978 and won 1,764 races while his trainees earned more than $17 million, according to the American Quarter Horse Association.