2022 San Jacinto Turf winner Imaluckycharm returns on Texas Champions Day
March 18, 2026
March 18, 2026
2022 San Jacinto Turf winner Imaluckycharm returns on Texas Champions Day
<span style="font-size: 27.04px;">2022 San Jacinto Turf winner Imaluckycharm returns on Texas Champions Day</span>
SAN JACINTO TURF
Trainer Karen Jacks had won 3 straight editions of the San Jacinto Turf prior to Imaluckycharm finishing off the board in 2025 as a heavy 1-2 favorite. She is back for redemption this time around as the 5/2 morning line favorite.
During February’s Texas Preview Day card, the most exciting finish came in the Miss Bluebonnet Turf as Imaluckycharm narrowly staved off Optimistic Cowgirl. They will be back in the San Jacinto Turf, as well as third-place finisher Take My Picture and beaten favorite Sky Rocker.
Imaluckycharm is a seven-time winner over the Connally lawn for Carl Moore Management. While she was beaten in this race a year ago as the favorite, she was forced into a strong pace that afternoon. Jacks made a key equipment change prior to the Miss Bluebonnet Turf that that was designed to keep her clear of other horses, and it paid immediate dividends.
“She (Imaluckycharm) is training as well as she ever has and has won at multiple distances including a mile and a sixteenth against similar company,” Jacks said.
As far as the aggressive tactics that were employed in the Miss Bluebonnet, Jacks will leave the approach on Saturday up to jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr.
“Floyd is driving,” Jacks said. “He has the knowledge and experience to make midrace decisions based on how the race unfolds.”
The daughter of My Golden Song previously won the 2023 San Jacinto Turf and was made the 5/2 morning line favorite for this year’s edition.
Optimistic Cowgirl is still seeking her first turf stakes win for owner-trainer Eduardo Cruz, but has earned two off-the-turf stakes tallies in the 2025 Miss Bluebonnet and Fiesta Mile. She was rallying strongest of all in this year’s Miss Bluebonnet Turf before running out of time. The daughter of Optimizer was made 3-1 on the morning line.
The strong pace in the Miss Bluebonnet Turf left Sky Rocker much farther behind than normal, and she wound up making a strong run to finish fourth. Trainer Mindy Willis is hoping for her to be a bit more involved early this time around.
“She has been out of the gate slowly in her last two starts, but the outside post may actually be to our advantage,” she said. “She has the speed to be much closer with a clean break because the other filly (Imaluckycharm) can’t be allowed to go out ‘wing-dinging’ it on the lead. I think she’s the horse to look her in the eye early.”
Sky Rocker is a homebred daughter of Sky Kingdom for Star Bright Thoroughbreds and is the 7/2 third choice on the morning line.
About Sam Houston Race Park
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