The Retama Park Quarter Horse and Mixed live race meet will wrap up its 2025 season this weekend, August 14–16, with three days of competitive racing and entertainment for the entire family. Fans can look forward to a high-caliber weekend of stakes racing for Arabians, Paints, Appaloosas, and Quarter Horses, alongside crowd favorites like the Weenie Dog Races, live music, and great food.
“Thanks to our Horsemen, and the fans who make Retama Park a special place to be during the summer. We end the 2025 season with excitement for what lies ahead in 2026,” said Mike Acton, Secretary of Racing at Retama Park.
The meet’s final weekend will begin on Thursday with an 11-race card featuring an Arabian Allowance in the first race, followed by ten Quarter Horse events. Thursday is also Military Appreciation Night, where military personnel and first responders receive free admission.
Friday evening’s program will feature the $37,000 Texas Arabian Derby (G2) at 1 1/6 miles for three-and four-year-old Arabians in the second race, followed by the $50,000 AQHA Retama Championship Challenge (G3) in the sixth race, a 440-yard event for three-year-olds and up. The challenge winner will earn a berth in the AQHA Challenge Championship on October 18 in Albuquerque.
Saturday’s stakes program will open with the $30,237 Colors Of the Wind Paint and Appaloosa Maturity in the first race and the $61,590 Colors Of the Wind Paint and Appaloosa Futurity in the second race.
The highlight of Saturday night will be the much-anticipated TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2) and TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby, both offering six-figure purses and proven performers. With purses that have grown significantly in recent years, these races have become key events for both racehorse and stallion owners, as stallion owners who nominate receive a portion of the winning purse.
“Both Sires’ Cup races look to be very competitive events, as you would expect from any race with six-figure purses,” said Scott Sherwood, TQHA Director of Racing. “I’m looking forward to being there and watching these finals—they will be exciting races for the fans as well.”
If the increase in fan attendance during the trials is any indication, the closing weekend should expect a big crowd for the finals. The $223,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity will be run as the tenth race, followed by the $110,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby in the eleventh race.
Sherwood expressed his appreciation for the management of this season’s meet, stating, “This has been an excellent Retama Park meet as far as the TQHA is concerned. The positive changes here over the past couple of years have been noticeable to both patrons and horsemen. Bryan Pettigrew and the crew have done a tremendous job running the meet in a professional manner. It’s been a lot of fun.”
The excitement of the popular Weenie Dog Races returns on Saturday with trial heats running between the horse races. The winners from each trial will advance to the final for a $500 cash prize, and all Dachshunds—whether seasoned racers or first-timers—are welcome to register. CLICK HERE to register your Weenie Dog.
First post for each evening is 6:15 p.m., with gates opening at 5:00 p.m. Kids five and under get in free, and parking is free. Retama Park invites everyone to join the fun as the 2025 meet closes with exciting racing and family entertainment.
THE STAKES LINE-UP AND MORNING LINE FAVORITES
Below is a look at the morning line favorites for this weekend’s featured stakes races, highlighting the top contenders expected to set the pace in their respective races.
$50,000 AQHA Retama Championship Challenge
Race 6 – Friday, August 16
Morning-line favorite Relentless Eagle (9-5) headlines the field for owner Lance Bland and trainer Marc E. Jungers. The 4-year-old gelding by Hes Relentless out of Volcoms Delight by Volcom, bred in Oklahoma by George P. Mitchell II, boasts six career wins and earnings of $316,935.
Purchased for $100,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale, Relentless Eagle was a multiple stakes winner in 2024, including victories in the Texas Classic Derby (G1) and Dash For Cash Derby (G2). He will make his second start of 2025 after a tight fifth in a June allowance at Los Alamitos. Regular rider Christian Ramos has the call.
Second choice As Moonflash (2-1) enters off a victory in the July 3 Selma Stakes at Retama Park, where she dueled and prevailed with a 98 speed index for owner Marisol Alvarado and trainer Heber Deyta-Melendez. Nestor Duran will be aboard the 4-year-old filly by First Moonflash.
Veteran Tyger King (10-1) will look to recapture his winning form for owner Tabasco Racing LLC and trainer Yasmine M. Medina. While longshot Jess Hylee Redeemed (15-1) completes the field for owner Clyde Goff and trainer Roger Partridge.
With only four entrants, the $50,000 AQHA Retama Park Championship Challenge promises a high-stakes sprint where the winner not only claims the lion’s share of the purse but also secures a coveted spot in the Grade 1 $350,000-est. AQHA Challenge Championship this fall in New Mexico.
Colors of The Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Maturity
Race 1 – Saturday, August 16
Cowboy Heartbreak (PT), a three-time 2025 winner, will lead a competitive field in the 350-yard event. The 7-2 morning-line choice from post 7 comes into the Maturity in top form for owner-trainer Zackery N. Rios. The 3-year-old sorrel gelding by Boknaai (QH) out of Camo Cowgirl, by Awesome Chrome, has won three of five starts this year, including a victory in the July 19 Gillespie County Fair Stakes, where he edged V Golden Game by a nose in 18.016. Nestor Duran has the return call aboard the $50,696 earner.
V Golden Game (PT), 4-1 on the morning line from post 4, has proven to be Cowboy Heartbreak’s most formidable rival in recent months. The 4-year-old gelding by leading APHA sire CRM Livewire out of Game Hi (QH), by Game Patriot (QH), races for Oscar Rivera Cardona and is trained by Raul Rodriguez, Jr.
He earned a stakes win at Sam Houston on June 7, defeating Cowboy Heartbreak by a neck in 18.095, and just missed repeating that score in the Gillespie County Fair Stakes, finishing second by a nose. A multiple stakes-placed earner of over $75,000, V Golden Game was bred in Oklahoma by Aubrey L. Garcia. Victor Urieta, Jr. will ride.
The Colors of The Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Maturity offers $10,000 in added funds from the TPHBA Event Fund and $17,237 from the HIEA, with purse distribution to the top finishers and a $7,500 bonus for Accredited Texas-bred 3-year-old Paints.
$61,590 Colors of The Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Futurity
Race 2 – Saturday, August 16
The 350-yard stakes race has drawn an evenly matched group led by fastest qualifier Mrs Pyc Painted Nova and undefeated Sinnin Hot Pepper.
Mrs Pyc Painted Nova (5-2), owned and bred in Texas by Michael and Maci Read, turned in the most impressive trial performance, scoring wire-to-wire in 18.155 for trainer Randall R. Read. The sorrel filly by Little Pyc out of Get Down Jessie (QH), by Get Down Perry (QH), has won three of seven starts in 2025, earning $22,911. A stakes finalist at Sam Houston earlier this summer, she also captured a futurity trial there in May, before finishing third in the final. Jockey Nestor Duran, who guided her in the trials, will again be in the saddle.
The second choice is Sinnin Hot Pepper (3-1), who will put his two-for-three record on the line for owner-breeder Rene Rodriguez and trainer Angel Sanchez. The sorrel colt by Chilitos (QH) out of Sinnin Bill (QH), by Pf Lucky Billy (QH), scored a determined trial win in 18.241, defeating multiple return rivals. He broke his maiden at Retama on June 26 and has banked $15,516. Eddie Sanchez retains the mount on the colt, who has shown consistent early speed in each of his starts.
$223,000 Sires’ Cup Futurity-RG2 – Morning Line Favorites
Race 10 – Saturday, August 16
The 5-2 morning line favorite is fastest qualifier The Lion Kingg, a Louisiana-bred gelding by Champion Tempting Dash out of Tres Of Jess by Tres Seis. Bred by Ross Roark, he was purchased for $97,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Owned by J.A. Racing LLC and trained by Dimas Sanchez, The Lion Kingg is undefeated in three starts, including a driving win in his trial where he posted a 93 speed index while holding off Fire Chilitos. Ridden in all starts by Nestor Duran, he also won a 330-yard allowance at Retama and a maiden score at Sam Houston.
Second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is The Valiant Flame, a Texas-bred filly by The Louisiana Cartel out of Valiant Flame by Valiant Hero, bred and owned by Torres Buildings. Trained by Brian Stroud and ridden by Jose Herbert, The Valiant Flame comes into the final off a trial win, dueling throughout to earn the second fastest qualifying time and her second victory from four starts. Earlier this year, she captured a maiden race at Sam Houston before finishing runner-up in an allowance and a trial where she qualified for the Grade 3 John Deere Juvenile Challenge.
At 9-2, Prize Time Lelo is another strong contender. The Texas-bred colt is by Pyc Prize Time out of Cosmo Lela by Cosmograph, bred and owned by Jose Edelio Cantu Jr. Trained by Juan Isidro Cantu and to be ridden by Froylan T. Ramirez, Prize Time Lelo is perfect in two starts at 350 yards, including a dominant trial victory by over a length with a 90 speed index. His four-race record shows three wins and a maiden-breaking debut in April at Sam Houston.
$110,000 Sires’ Cup Derby at Retama Park
Race 11 – Saturday, August 16
Leading the 400-yard field as the 2-1 morning line favorite is multiple graded stakes-placed Eagles Up, owned by Mario H. Vazquez and Jumonville Farms and trained by Jose Sanchez. The Louisiana-bred son of One Famous Eagle out of U R Blue by Walk Thru Fire was bred by Jumonville Farms and sold for $75,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Eagles Up won his trial on August 2, stopping the clock in 20.243. He has been a model of consistency, with a career record of four wins, two seconds, and two thirds from ten starts, earning $112,743. As a juvenile, he qualified for the Grade 2 Evangeline Downs Futurity and finished a close second in the final. He also placed third in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby two races back. Luis Vivanco, who guided him in his trial victory, will again be in the irons.
The 3-1 second choice, Marfalous, comes into the final for owner Leviram Racing LLC and trainer Dimas Sanchez. The gelded son of The Marfa Lights out of Mystical Desire by Desirio was a dominant wire-to-wire winner in his trial, posting a 20.288 clocking. A multiple stakes finalist with earnings of $98,362, he has proven competitive at the graded level, including qualifying for the 2024 Dash For Cash Futurity (G2), Sam Houston Futurity(G2), and TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1). Victor M. Urieta Jr., aboard for the trial win, retains the mount aboard the $98,362 earner.
Flyin Chilitos, the 9-2 third choice, will break from post 10 for owner Omar Paredes and trainer Leonel Hernandez. Claudia Miranda bred the Texas-bred son of second-crop sire Chilitos out of Sensational Senator by Louisiana Senator. A double-registered AQHA/APHA, he boasts five wins and five seconds from 14 lifetime starts, earning $128,704. His résumé includes APHA stakes wins as a juvenile and second in the recent Firecracker Derby(G3) at Delta Downs. Eleazar R. Hernandez will take the reins in the finals.
