Quarter Horse racing continues at Retama Park this Friday and Saturday, August 1–2, with an 11-race card on Friday and a 10-race program on Saturday, both highlighted by trials for the $223,000 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity-RG2 and $110,000 TQHA Sires Cup Derby.
Friday’s card features seventy-seven 2-year-olds entered across eight 350-yard trials for the TQHA Sires Cup Futurity-RG2.
These futurity trials are open to foals sired by stallions who participated in the TQHA Stallion Auction held during the corresponding breeding year for these foals. The trials will be run in races 2 through 9, with the first trial race starting at 6:41 p.m. CT.
Cheyenne Saenz w/Band The Dancing Cowgirl will perform live between races on Friday evening, adding a festive atmosphere to an exciting night of racing.
On Saturday, twenty-six 3-year-olds are set to compete in three 400-yard TQHA Sires Cup Derby trials. Like the Futurity, the Derby is restricted to foals of stallions from the TQHA Stallion Auction, and the first trial race is set to go off at 8:57 p.m. CT.
The top ten fastest times from each set of trials will determine the qualifiers for the TQHA Sires Cup Futurity-RG2 and Derby final set for August 16.
Saturday is also Family Fun Night at Retama Park, which will offer face painters, bounce houses, pony rides, and many other fun family activities for everyone in attendance. In addition, a special LOPE (LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers) Learning Lab beginning at 3 p.m. Children and families are invited for behind-the-scenes track tours, with opportunities to meet a Veterinarian, speak with a Jockey, see the Jockey’s locker room, and learn more about the sport. The Learning Lab is free and open to all.
Retama Park will be open on Monday and Tuesday, August 4 and 5, for simulcasting and will feature the All-American Futurity Trials from Albuquerque. Fans can watch and wager on the All-American Futurity Trials both days at Retama Park.
Live Racing continues with a special Wednesday, August 6 race day – first post 6:15 p.m. CT.
$223,000 TQHA SIRES CUP FUTURITY-G3 TRIALS
Saturday, August 1 (Races 2-9 on the program)
Two stakes winners and multiple black type runners are among the standouts in the $223,000 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity-RG2 trials.
The eighth race of the evening features Di Kvn Waven, the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Undefeated in three starts, the standout filly has earned $164,955 for owner Refugio Alvarado, who purchased her for $24,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.
Trained by Carlos Camarena, Di Kvn Waven made a statement in her debut with a gate-to-wire win in the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity trials, where she posted the fastest qualifying time. She returned to win the finals, then followed up with a third straight victory in the TQHA Sale Futurity trials earlier this month.
Sired by KVN Corona, Di Kvn Waven was bred in Texas by Jacobo Garza. She is out of Waven Bye Piloto, by Mr Piloto. With regular rider Oliver Martinez aboard, she’ll break from post five, aiming to remain undefeated—and post the fastest qualifying time of the night.
Another filly to watch closely is Flawless Grace, entered in the fifth trial. From four career starts, the daughter of leading first-year sire Dulce Sin Tacha. She has posted two wins and a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity on June 14, amassing earnings of $161,635.
She’ll break from the rail under Nestor Duran for trainer Al Watson, poised to fire her best shot yet. Flawless Grace was bred by Kelly Yother Equine, LLC, out of Heroic Grace, by Apollitical Jess. A $30,000 purchase from the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, she races for owner Rolando Resendez.
Shot Of Takillya, the only other stakes winner in the futurity trials, lines up in race six with 3-1 odds. The son of Muddy Watters has two wins and one second with earnings of $120,071 from four starts. His accolades include a victory in the Old South Futurity in May and a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity.
Trainer Francisco Perez, Jr. will saddle the gray colt for owner/breeder Sunset Well Service, Inc. He is out of Takillya Gurl, by PYC Paint Your Wagon. Raul Hernandez Jr. will ride from post five.
Also in race six is Kas He Tells You, who has lit the board in all four of his starts, collecting two wins and $86,840 in earnings. The son of Tell Cartel placed third in both the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 and the West Texas Juvenile.
Bred and owned in Texas by Francisco Garza, the sorrel gelding is out of Beaukas, by Make It Anywhere. Trainer Al Watson will again send him out with Victor Urieta Jr. up. He is the 5-2 early favorite in this sixth trial and breaks from post four.
The Sires Cup Futurity-RG2 trials feature promising juvenile prospects, many of whom already hold black-type credentials. The ten fastest qualifiers from Friday night’s trials will return under the lights at Retama Park on Saturday, August 16, to compete in the $75,000-added final.
$110,000 TQHA Sires Cup Derby Trials
Saturday, August 2 (Races 7-9 on the program)
The $110,000 TQHA Sires Cup Derby trials spotlight four standout horses, who have all earned black type and boast nearly $100,000 or more in earnings. The ten fastest times across all three trials will determine who moves on to the $110,000 Sires Cup Derby Finals, set for the closing weekend at Retama Park on August 16.
Trial one is highlighted by Marfalous, who will be ridden by Victor Urieta, Jr. from post three. The son of The Marfa Lights has a record of 2-2-1 from nine starts and $92,362 in earnings. Earlier this season, he was a finalist in the Leon Bard Stakes and competed in both the TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1 and Dash For Cash Futurity-G2 last year.
Trainer Dimas Sanchez will saddle the bay gelding for owner Leviram Racing, LLC. He was bred in Texas by Juan and Jairo Lozano out of Mystical Desire by Desirio.
Flirtacious Showboat, the top earner in the trials with $125,837 banked across just five starts, will be the star in trial two. Trained by multiple Champion trainer Marc Jungers, this filly has won two races and placed consistently against quality fields for owners Naia and Tyler Graham, who purchased her for $40,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Kiss My Hocks placed third in last year’s Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1 and will be making her second start of the season in the trial. She will break from post position seven with Raul Hernandez, Jr. aboard, seeking to deliver the kind of performance that confirms her status as one of the favorites for the finals.
Also starting in trial two, Eagles Up is a multiple stakes-placed winner, including his last start where he earned a third-place finish in the Sam Houston Derby-G3 under regular rider Luis Vivanco. The son of One Famous Eagle has hit the board in seven of nine starts with three wins and $106,743 in earnings.
Trainer Jose Sanchez will saddle the sorrel colt under the guidance of Vivanco from post two for owners Mario Vazquez and Jumonville Farms. The $75,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate is out of U R Blue by Walk Thru Fire.
The final trial heat will feature the seasoned and determined Flyin Chilitos, a double-registered AQHA/APHA gelding. The thirteen-time starter enters with a solid record of four wins, five seconds, and one third, amassing $122,704 in career earnings. The gelding is coming off a strong runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Firecracker Derby, where he missed by just a head after being bumped at the break.
In his freshman campaign, Flyin Chilitos won the Texas Hero Futurity-G1 and placed second in the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2 and Alamo P&A Futurity. Miranda Claudia bred the son of leading second-year sire Chilitos in Texas out of Sensational Senator by Louisiana Senator.
Trained by Leonel Hernandez for owner Omar Paredes, he’s a proven competitor against tough company and will look to turn in a top effort from the inside post under champion jockey James Flores.
ADDITIONAL RETAMA PARK 2025 PROMOTIONS
Military Appreciation (free admission for Active and Veteran Military and first Responders) this Thursday, July 31, will feature Air Force Night, including a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band of the West, and other activities. Other upcoming events include the Diamond Dig presented by Americus Diamond on Friday, August 8, and Wiener Dog Races on Saturday, August 16, closing night. CLICK HERE for the remaining stakes schedule.
