Eysa Jess Jumpn headlines quarter horse meet opener

Friday night’s opening of Sam Houston Race Park’s 20-date quarter horse meet offers a how-todo-it tip for the investing world.

Professional investors classify “value stocks” as those that sell for less than their worth. Eysa Jess Jumpn, who races in the opening program, certainly fits that value category.

Trainer Josue Huitron admired her at a 2017 Louisiana yearling sale. He dismissed other prospects as too expensive. He liked Eysa Jess Jumpn’s breeding and persuaded owner Jose Estrada to buy her for $11,500.

Now a 3-year-old, Eysa Jess Jumpn has earned $440,700 entering her SHRP start.

“I think people overlooked her because she's a small horse,” Huitron said. “They spent more money on bigger horses that didn't work out as well.”

Those who easily measured Eysa Jess Jumpn's size had no measuring tool for her racing spirit. She got a bad start in her first race and then lost a second outing.

“Ever since, she has thrown everything into every race,” Huitron said.

She has won six of her last seven dashes and will be heavily favored in her trial race.

Friday programs during the meet will start at 7:15 p.m.. Opening-night heats will qualify horses for the $35,000 Sam Houston Derby on May 3.

Saturday programs normally will start at 7:15 p.m., but this week’s has been advanced to 4 p.m. to accommodate 15 heats for the $100,000-added Sam Houston Futurity on May 3. Futurity nomination and entry fees will push that purse to about $450,000, the highest prize of each SHRP racing year.

SHRP also will race at noon on Mondays through May 20. The season ends May 25.