Daily Picks

Sam Houston Picks & Predictions — May 23, 2026

Saturday, May 23, 202610 racesSam Houston

It's trial day at Sam Houston Race Park, and we've got a full 10-race card of 350-yard quarter horse sprints to dig into on Saturday, May 23. That means every single race on the card is a lightning-fast straight dash — blink and you'll miss it. These trials matter, because how a horse runs today can punch their ticket to bigger futurity and derby races down the road.

The weather isn't cooperating — rain is coming down in Houston with temperatures sitting around 80°F, and that wet dirt is going to be a factor. In these ultra-short sprints, a muddy or sloppy track surface can tighten up early reaction times and put a premium on clean breaks from the gate. Horses that have shown they can fire hard out of the box on off tracks will have a real edge today. Keep that in mind across the entire card.

TrackWiz analysis covers all 10 trials, with the first three races open to everyone and the final seven races available to subscribers. There's plenty of action to unpack, so let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:30 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

A wide-open trial full of first-timers with no prior speed figures to lean on — the TrackWiz ratings separate a tight top tier from the rest of a deep field.

win3Seis Fire DashML 5/2

Seis Fire Dash draws the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 57.5 and comes in at a very reasonable 5/2 on the morning line — that's fair value for the top-rated horse. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz sends this one out with jockey Ruben Delarosa Jr. in the irons, a pairing worth watching in these Texas quarter horse trials. In a race where no horse carries a prior speed figure, our ratings-based edge puts #3 on top, and the price makes the win bet comfortable.

place4I Run to UML 7/2

I Run to U (#4) rates second-best in the field at 55.83 and is the morning line co-second choice at 7/2. Trainer Jorge Rivas Correa hooks up with jockey H. Javier Hernandez, and the combination of a strong TrackWiz score and competitive odds makes this a solid place ticket underneath Seis Fire Dash.

show8Eagle On the PreyML 9/2

Eagle On the Prey (#8) rounds out the top three in TrackWiz ratings at 54.17 and is posted at 9/2 — slight overlay territory for a show play. Trainer Zackary Stinebaugh and jockey Francisco Raul Ramirez Jr. form a connection to respect, and slotting this one in exotics as a third wheel makes sense given the compressed ratings gap at the top of the field.

Race 2

11:56 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Coronas First Cowboy stands out like a class tiger in a field of cubs — a 66% career win rate dwarfs the competition and makes this race's shape unusually clear for a trial.

win3Coronas First CowboyML 5/2

Coronas First Cowboy (#3) is simply in a different stratosphere here. A 66% career win rate — the only horse in this field with significant win history — pairs with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 that towers over the second-best score of 55.83. Trainer Marc E. Jungers sends him out with Luis L. Vivanco up, a trusted jockey-trainer combination at Sam Houston. At 5/2 on the morning line, this isn't a value play — it's a confidence play, and the numbers back it up emphatically.

place2Bad Boy 123ML 7/2

Bad Boy 123 (#2) is the only other horse in the field with a 100% career win rate, albeit in a smaller sample. His TrackWiz rating of 55.83 is second-best in the field, and Nestor Duran is a reliable rider in these short sprints. If Coronas First Cowboy runs his race, Bad Boy 123 looks like the most likely runner-up.

show4Soaring Lark 123ML 4/1

Soaring Lark 123 (#4) rates third in the field at 55.0 and is at a fair 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Noe R. Sanchez and jockey Francisco Giles give this one a solid connections profile, and the show spot in exotics is worth including given the distance separation between the top three and the rest of the field.

Race 3

12:22 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Dot Dot Dot Xo carries a 100% career win record into this trial and looks like the one to beat — the question is who can steal a piece at value.

win2Dot Dot Dot XoML 2/1

Dot Dot Dot Xo (#2) is the standout here — a 100% career win rate backed by the field's top TrackWiz score of 58.33 and a morning line of 2/1 that reflects trainer Zackary Stinebaugh's confidence in this runner. Jockey Francisco Giles climbs aboard, and this pairing has the look of a well-prepared horse pointed at a specific target. In these 350-yard trials, proven winners are gold, and Dot Dot Dot Xo is the most proven horse on the grounds today.

place1Let It B CowgirlML 7/2

Let It B Cowgirl (#1) rates a solid 55.83 on the TrackWiz scale and is the second choice on the morning line at 7/2. Nestor Duran has been one of the busiest and most effective jockeys on this card, and trainer Katie Carlos has her charge in good position from the rail. A place ticket here offers real value if the favorite handles the distance cleanly.

show9An Eagles GameML 9/2

An Eagles Game (#9) checks in at a 54.17 TrackWiz rating and 9/2 odds, connecting trainer John A. Stinebaugh with jockey Francisco Raul Ramirez Jr. — a barn that has multiple horses running today, suggesting they're in good form. As a show play or tri-wheel, the Stinebaugh barn's activity level is a subtle positive angle.

Our three free picks span the opening trio of trials, and they give you a solid read on how the day is shaping up. Coronas First Cowboy in Race 2 is the standout of the bunch — a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 towers over every other top pick on the card, and that kind of separation at 5/2 on the morning line is exactly the spot where you lean in. Races 1 and 3 are tighter affairs: Seis Fire Dash and Dot Dot Dot Xo both carry similar ratings in the 57-58 range, which tells you those fields are more evenly matched. In condensed trial sprints like these, even small advantages in post position, gate speed, or trainer form can be the difference — and the wet track adds another layer to sort through.

The through-line connecting all three free races is this: on a rainy day at Sam Houston, consistency off the gate is king. Quarter horses have no room to make up ground at 350 yards — it's all about who fires first and who holds their line in slick conditions. Our free picks reflect horses we trust to do exactly that.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:48 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Crystal Boi brings a perfect career record and the field's top rating into this subscription-level trial — there's a short favorite here, but the undercard positions offer legitimate value.

win6Crystal BoiML 8/5

Crystal Boi (#6) is the horse to beat with a 100% career win rate and the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 59.0. Trainer Jose U. Lopez sends out Bryan Candanosa, who is logging a heavy workload across this card — a sign connections trust their horses. At 8/5 on the morning line, this is a short price, but a perfect win record is worth respecting in a 350-yard blast where there's no room to make up ground.

place5Kj Money MakerML 9/2

Kj Money Maker (#5) rates second in the field at 54.17 and is at a juicy 9/2 on the morning line. Trainer Marc E. Jungers, who has multiple horses competing today, saddles this one with Raul Padilla Hernandez Jr. up. No career wins on the board yet, but the rating supports a place finish, and the odds make the place ticket a worthy investment underneath the favorite.

show2Jj KissML 6/1

Jj Kiss (#2) brings a 50% career win rate to the table — the only other horse in this field besides Crystal Boi with win experience — and rates 51.67 on the TrackWiz scale. At 6/1, trainer Bobby Muniz Pena and jockey Nestor Duran offer a credible show option, and that win history in a field full of debut types makes Jj Kiss a useful exotic piece.

Race 5

1:14 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Two horses with verified win history set up a compelling pace battle in this subscription trial — Cajuns 123 and Karo Kiss are the class of the field heading in.

win7Cajuns 123ML 9/5

Cajuns 123 (#7) carries the top TrackWiz score in the field at 58.67 and a 50% career win rate, giving him both a performance edge and proven experience. Trainer Bobby Muniz Pena teams up with Nestor Duran, and this stable has shown up with sharp horses throughout today's card. The 9/5 morning line makes this a short-priced win bet, but in a 350-yard trial, you're paying for reliability — and the numbers say Cajuns 123 is the most reliable runner here.

place9Karo KissML 7/2

Karo Kiss (#9) is the only unbeaten horse in the field — a perfect career win record — and rates 55.83 on the TrackWiz scale. Trainer Marc E. Jungers and jockey Luis L. Vivanco form a strong tandem, and at 7/2, this horse offers real place value. The win history is the differentiator for a horse sitting second on our ratings board.

show6Sharp CaliberML 9/2

Sharp Caliber (#6) checks in at 54.17 on the TrackWiz scale and is posteded at 9/2 under jockey Francisco Raul Ramirez Jr. for trainer John A. Stinebaugh — a barn that has been active and engaged throughout this card. As a show play, the price is fair and the Stinebaugh program's consistency gives this one a credible floor.

Race 6

1:40 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Hesawthebatsignal enters as the top-rated runner, but Bolo Cowboy's perfect win record makes this a genuine two-horse battle at the front of the field.

win5HesawthebatsignalML 2/1

Hesawthebatsignal (#5) tops the TrackWiz ratings board at 58.33 with a 50% career win rate, drawing favorable odds of 2/1 on the morning line. Trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III has been active throughout this card, and Luis L. Vivanco — who has ridden multiple horses today — knows the track well. The combination of top rating and win experience puts this one squarely on top, even at a short price.

place9Bolo CowboyML 7/2

Bolo Cowboy (#9) may be the most interesting horse in this race — a 100% career win rate is impossible to ignore, even if the TrackWiz rating of 55.83 comes in slightly below the top. Trainer Ricardo D. Romero has been consistently placing horses on this card, and Claudio Ponce Aguilar is a reliable quarter-horse rider. At 7/2, a place ticket on a horse that has never lost feels like solid handicapping.

show6Party Firebawl 123ML 9/2

Party Firebawl 123 (#6) rates third in the field at 54.17 and is a 9/2 shot on the morning line. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal sends out Ruben Delarosa Jr., and while this horse lacks prior win history, the rating gap between show and fourth is meaningful. In exotics, Party Firebawl 123 is the logical third wheel given the tier structure of this field.

Race 7

2:06 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Mister Sinatra comes in as a heavy favorite with a stout TrackWiz score, but a handful of capable runners make the exotics worth constructing carefully.

win2Mister SinatraML 7/5

Mister Sinatra (#2) tops this field with a 59.33 TrackWiz score — the highest in Race 7 — and a 50% career win rate that confirms real on-track ability. Trainer Zackary Stinebaugh, who has saddled multiple horses today, connects with the in-form Bryan Candanosa in the irons. At 7/5 morning line, this is the kind of heavy chalk that's tough to beat in a short sprint — when the best-rated horse also has win experience, you respect the price and move on to building the ticket around him.

place1Eye Chi WawaML 7/2

Eye Chi Wawa (#1) rates second in the field at 55.83 and draws the rail under Luis L. Vivanco — a rider who has been logging serious miles on this card. Trainer Ben Olaveson gives this one a shot at the place at 7/2, and while no prior wins are on the board, the rating separation from the show horse down is notable enough to make this a strong place anchor.

show4Texan MoonML 9/2

Texan Moon (#4) checks in at 54.17 with trainer Ricardo D. Romero saddling and Claudio Ponce Aguilar riding — a tandem that has been active throughout today's program. At 9/2, the show position at a modest price makes Texan Moon a reasonable exotic piece for players building trifectas around the Mister Sinatra-led top of the ticket.

Race 8

2:32 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Dk Bonita Jess enters as the short-priced favorite with the field's top rating, but three horses bring 100% career win records into this trial — making the exotics unusually interesting.

win5Dk Bonita JessML 3/2

Dk Bonita Jess (#5) leads the field with a 59.17 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win rate, and the 3/2 morning line reflects her status as the clear top choice. Nestor Duran, one of the busiest riders on today's card, gets the call for trainer Miguel Pizana. In a 350-yard race, gate speed and preparation matter above all else — and Dk Bonita Jess ticks both boxes with the field's highest score and proven race experience.

place3Mr Jet FeesML 7/2

Mr Jet Fees (#3) rates second in the field at 55.83 under trainer Ricardo D. Romero and jockey Claudio Ponce Aguilar — a reliable tandem throughout this card. No career wins yet, but the rating is legitimate second-tier, and at 7/2, the place spot is well-priced for a horse that should fire cleanly in a well-managed trial.

show4Abouta Get WesternML 9/2

Abouta Get Western (#4) carries a 100% career win rate — one of three such horses in the field — and rates 54.17 on the TrackWiz scale at 9/2. Trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III and jockey Luis L. Vivanco are a polished combination, and while the rating puts this one third, the win record gives it a floor that pure first-timers can't claim. A show play or trifecta slot is well justified.

Race 9

2:58 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Feenix leads the field in TrackWiz ratings and brings a 50% career win rate, but at 3/1, there's enough competition to keep the exotics interesting from post to post.

win1FeenixML 3/1

Feenix (#1) tops this field with a 56.67 TrackWiz score and a 50% career win rate — the only horse in this field with proven win history entering the gate today. Trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III and jockey Luis L. Vivanco are a consistent pairing throughout today's card, and drawing the rail in a 350-yard dash is not a disadvantage when you've got early speed credentials. At 3/1, this is a fair price for the class of the field.

place9Flying Haulin CowboyML 4/1

Flying Haulin Cowboy (#9) rates second in the field at 55.0 and is posted at 4/1 — just a tick above Feenix on the morning line. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez has runners throughout this card, and Oliver E. Martinez brings local familiarity to the assignment. Without a prior win on the record, the place spot is the right framing for this horse, and the price makes it a live ticket.

show7Sunday JusticeML 6/1

Sunday Justice (#7) rates 51.67 and is at 6/1 — the third-best score in the field and a price that reflects a legitimate show contender. Trainer Ricardo D. Romero and jockey Claudio Ponce Aguilar have been an active, dependable combination all day at Sam Houston, and fitting Sunday Justice into trifecta wheels at 6/1 is an approach that should appeal to players building out the Race 9 ticket.

Race 10

3:24 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Mojito Your Train stands well clear of the field in TrackWiz ratings and brings genuine win history — this looks like the best single-horse betting opportunity of the final races on the card.

win2Mojito Your TrainML 5/2

Mojito Your Train (#2) has the field's top TrackWiz rating by a meaningful margin at 65.31 — nearly 10 points above the second-best score — and a 33% career win rate that reflects consistent competitiveness in prior starts. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz connects with jockey Raul Padilla Hernandez Jr., and at 5/2 on the morning line, this is one of the cleaner win plays on the entire card. The rating gap here is the story — when one horse separates this clearly, you trust the edge.

place7Racey by DesignML 7/2

Racey by Design (#7) rates second in the field at 55.83 and is at 7/2 under the guidance of trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III and jockey Luis L. Vivanco — a tandem that has been one of the most active and effective on today's card. No wins on the career record, but the rating is legitimate, and the place ticket offers value if Mojito Your Train handles her business at the front.

show6Jvm Victoria DollML 9/2

Jvm Victoria Doll (#6) rounds out the TrackWiz top three at 54.17 and is posted at 9/2. Trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia and jockey Rosendo E. Pina Garcia give this one a quiet but credible profile, and at a modest price, fitting Jvm Victoria Doll into tri-boxes or as a show bet is a reasonable way to round out the final race on the Sam Houston card.

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Bottom line: Sam Houston is serving up 10 quick-strike trials on a rainy Saturday, and Coronas First Cowboy is the marquee play of the free card. For the full picture — including pace angles, exotic tickets, and our takes on Mister Sinatra, Mojito Your Train, and the rest of the premium field — subscribers have everything they need waiting for them. Good luck out there, and may your horses break clean.

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