Sam Houston Race Park · Friday, February 20, 2026 · Race 5 of 9

Maiden Claiming

dirt, fastSix FurlongsPurse $11,0008 ranPost 2026-02-20 20:23:00Final time 1:12.08Pool $15,655

Good for all except 2,3,4,8

Result

FinPPHorseJockey / Trainerstart1/41/2stretchfinishMarginOddsFig
12Major Ortiz
cls,bid3/i8,just up
Stewart Elliott44331—0.2045A
E1 114 · LP 110
25E Z Words
dueled,led upr,caught
Santos Rivera22212126.7027A
E1 116 · LP 104
37Drama King
3-4w,fin well,gain3rd
Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez555537½8.1052A
E1 110 · LP 101
43Gus Cause
pnch st,loomd,flattnd
Eliazar Vera874449¼15.4023A
E1 102 · LP 97
54Promise Me Money
tight st,led,gave way
Deshawn Parker1112512½9.3010A
E1 119 · LP 84
61Ranger Town
ins back,lacked rally
Lane Luzzi6676616¼40.8015A
E1 104 · LP 88
78Captain Dakota
hopped st, dull effort
Rohan Singh7888720¼34.6058A
E1 98 · LP 85
86Golden Pursuit
prssd3w,wknd,stopped
Floyd Wethey Jr.336782214.208A
E1 114 · LP 78

How the race unfolded (position at each call; hover a line to follow one runner)

12345678start1/41/2stretchfinish5E Z Words7Drama King3Gus Cause4Promise Me Money1Ranger Town8Captain Dakota6Golden Pursuit2Major Ortiz

Fractional times

Call 122.23
Call 246.16
Call 359.21
Final1:12.08

Payouts

BetWinning numbersPaidPool
win ($2)2$2.40—
place ($2)2$2.20—
show ($2)2$2.10—
exacta ($1)2-5$47.20$6,874
place ($2)5$9.80—
show ($2)5$6.60—
trifecta ($0.50)2-5-7$43.95$5,693
show ($2)7$2.80—
superfecta ($0.10)2-5-7-3$20.07$4,134
Pick 3 ($1)7-1-2$15.50$515
Pick 4 ($0.50)5-7-1$38$1,173
daily double ($1)1-2$4.40$281

Chart notes

MAJOR ORTIZ broke out at the start and into the path of GUS CAUSE, was sent along after the break to engage for the lead, settled off the pace into the turn, was under a drive from the three-furlong pooe, came three-wide into the stretch, was a little erratic, then straightened out, rallied, and wore down E Z WORDS in the final yards. E Z WORDS dueled outside of a rival from the start, gained a slight lead in upper stretch but could not hold off the winner. DRAMA KING raced three to four wide mid-pack, finished well to gain third, while never a serios threat to the top two. GUS CAUSE got pinched back at the start when MAJOR ORTIZ took the path out of the gate, raced at the back early, then advanced through the turn while under a ride, loomed in upper stretch but flattened out. PROMISE ME MONEY was in a bit tight at the start but emerged from the chaos in front, led the field into the turn, tried to fight back when challenged by E Z WORDS at the quarter pole, then gave way in the final furlong. RANGER TOWN raced near the back of the pack on the inside, and lacked a rally. CAPTAIN DAKOTA hopped at the start, then was outpaced early and at the back of the field heading into the turn, then had nothing to offer late. GOLDEN PURSUIT pressed the pace three-wide into the turn, then weakened, dropped through the field, and stopped in the stretch. THE JOCKEY ON #3 E Z WORDS LODGED A CLAIM OF FOUL AGAINST #2 MAJOR ORTIZ, ALLEGING INTERFERENCE AT THE START. AFTER A REVIEW, THE OBJECTION WAS DISALLOWED.