Texas Turf Mile
$100.000 For Three Year Olds
1 Mile – Turf
Sam Houston Race Park – January 24, 2026
In hindsight it seems like an obvious hunch choice that Kuykendahl would win this race. Why wouldn’t he? A Texas bred horse named after a Houston road named after a Texas-German immigrant who was the founder of the German Society of Texas in 1840 — of COURSE he is going to win the Texas Turf Mile! Seems obvious right? Yeah, it’s obvious after he wins and you say “what the heck does Kuykendal even mean?!” and you google it. The owner may have a different naming story but that is my assumption. This race taught me to fully research before writing previews. I missed the Texas hunch and I missed the weather as the track came up yielding. Apologies. Anyway, what about the race?
Winner: Kuykehdahl (Luz International/LJ Luzzi) Candlestick/Sunset Storm (Sinistorm) Was content to sit comfortably behind the main stalking group. With a half mile to go you could tell he was full of run and ready to go when asked and if he could find room. When the leaders began to feel the effects of setting the pace and drifted out a bit Luzzi hit the go button and he dove to the rail and charged through on the yielding course without hesitation for an impressive start to his three year old year and his first stakes win.
Second: Cracked Ginger (The Sidley Stud/V. Espinoza) Ginger Haggis/Cracked The Code (Commanding) Broke a step behind most but he is never one to show much early interest and he sat in his usual place near the back of the field spotting the leaders about seven lengths. He was another full of run and he responded when asked but had to circle wide. He was gaining on the leader at the end and the overland route may have cost him as he only fell a half a length short of his first stakes win. This was his first race after being gelded and the first tie he has hit the board since his debut win. His trainer has to be encouraged by this effort.
Third: Boss Mb (Williams9/R.A. Vasquez) Acapulco Bay/Nut It Up (Keyed Up) Doggedly pursued the pacesetters and was right on their flanks the whole trip. Going into the far turn he was head and head with Go Go Goblin. He battled with that one and briefly took the lead but could not withstand the powerful charges of the top two.
Fourth: Go Go Goblin (Mb Stables/J. Lezcano) Dirt Goblin/Ategic (Strategic Command) The preview pick fought on the front end the whole trip and was the leader with every chance to win at the top of the stretch but was not able to hold off the closers and lost a tough race long fight with Boss MB for the third spot.
The Texas Turf Mile is the first stakes win for Kuykendahl and the first win in this race for Owner and Breeder Luz International (who unknowingly is the reason this writer even found this game… story for another time). This is the three year old’s third win in four starts since being gelded and his third straight win. Kuykendahl’s career earnings now stand at $171.550 and it is also the first stakes winner for his dam Sunset Storm.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded