Thursday evening’s 10-race mixed meet card at Retama Park will feature a pair of distinctive breed showcases—the Grade 3 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity Trials and the Grade 3 Texas Arabian Oaks. The night starts with the Grade 3 Texas Arabian Oaks at 6:15 PM, drawing a talented field of Arabian fillies going one mile for a $37,000 purse. Six of the seven entrants bring prior stakes experience, adding depth to a competitive lineup.
Following the first race, 21 two-year-old Paint and Appaloosa runners are entered across three trial heats at 350 yards. The ten fastest qualifiers will return on August 16 to compete in the $70,000-estimated Grade 3 final. Races two through four are slated for the 350-yard trials, with an approximate first post of 6:42 PM. Each heat is evenly drawn with a field of seven, including several notable juveniles already proven in stakes competition earlier this season.
The #1 leading second-crop APHA sire by money earned, Chilitos, will be represented by an impressive nine of the 21 entrants. His progeny are heavily favored, dominating the early odds and field strength across all three trials.
The remaining six races are for American Quarter Horses, completing a whole evening of mixed-breed racing at Retama Park.
Join us for Military Appreciation Night — all active and veteran military personnel receive free admission. The evening also features Air Force Night, highlighted by a special performance from the Air Force Band of the West and other military-themed festivities honoring our service members.
COLORS OF THE ALAMO FUTURITY-G3 TRIALS PREVIEW – RACES 2-4 ON THE PROGRAM
One of only two stakes winners entered in the trials, Jackson Davis 747 is the 5-2 will face familia foes as the early morning line favorite the first trial. A two-time winner from four starts with $15,759 in earnings, the son of Chilitos will be saddled by Manuel Roman and ridden by Eliazar Vera for owners Tona and Val Gonzalez.
VP Dash For Texas is another contender to watch in Trial 1. The son of PYC Prize Time will break from post two under Alejandro Ochoa with 9-2 morning line odds. Trained by Alex Villarreal for owner Victor Villarreal, the bay gelding has lit the board from all three starts. He was the runner-up to Jackson Davis 747 in the TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile Stakes and ran third in the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge Stakes-G3.
Another entrant of interest in the first trial is Chill Chill, a maiden still seeking her first win, but stakes-placed after finishing second in the Colors of Houston Futurity. The daughter of Chilitos has earned $14,562 and could surprise despite her 15-1 odds.
The early nod in the second trial goes to Go Zippalitas, the 5-2 morning line favorite. A daughter of Chilitos, she is owned and trained by Winston Lewis. She broke her maiden on July 10, fighting off late challengers in a neck win. She’s earned $12,092 from four starts and will break from the rail under Nestor Duran, aiming to notch back-to-back wins and punch her ticket to the final.
The third heat may be the strongest on paper, led by I Do Not Recall, who draws the outside post and opens as the 5-2 favorite. The gelding by Chilitos has consistently performed in four outings, hitting the board in every start. Bred in Texas by Douglas McMullen Franz, he has earned $16,890 for owner Damika Burton. Brittany Tellez conditions him, with Froylan T. Ramirez taking the call. While the only runner in this heat without prior stakes experience, he is the only horse listed as a Quarter Horse in the trials.
Also starting in the third trial is Miss Nely, the only other stakes winner from the 21 entered. She captured the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2 in June and tops all entrants in earnings with $26,095 from five starts. The bay filly by Chilitos will be saddled by Manuel Roman and ridden by Eliazar Vera for owner Omar Paredes. She breaks from post two at 6-1 odds, making her a potential overlay.
Another contender to watch is Chieftainess, who placed third in the TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile Stakes and fourth in the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge Stakes-G3. With $15,626 in earnings, the daughter of Chilitos has proven herself against black-type company. Bred and owned by Mario G. Rodriguez, she’ll be guided by Victor M. Urieta, Jr. from post five for trainer Martin Rodriguez.
Also drawing attention in Trial 3 is Mrs PYC Paint Nova, a filly by Little PYC, listed as 9-2 on the morning line. She has compiled a solid resume with two wins and two third-place finishes from six starts, earning $19,311. Trained by Randall Read and ridden by Ali Rivera, the sorrel filly runs in the colors of owner Michael Read. She placed third in the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2 earlier this season and has qualified for multiple stakes finals, making her one of the more experienced runners in the field.
ADDITIONAL RETAMA PARK 2025 PROMOTIONS
Friday, August 1, Retama will showcase Cheyenne Saenz with Band—The Dancing Cowgirl performing between races.
Saturday is Family Fun Night at Retama Park, featuring 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, and learn more about the sport. The Learning Lab is free and open to all.
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.
