Retama Park saw notable gains in wagering and fan turnout during its three-day trial weekend, held July 31 through August 2, 2025. The TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity and Derby trials headlined the weekend, showcasing rising momentum across racing and community involvement.
“The Sires’ Cup Futurity and Derby have seen really nice growth over the past few years. Both races have posted significant increases in total purses,” said Scott Sherwood, TQHA Director of Racing.
The meet opened Thursday with a card anchored by the $69,590 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa RG2 Trials and the $40,180 Texas Arabian Oaks (G3). Friday was the weekend’s racing highlight, featuring trials for the $223,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2). Saturday closed out the event with the $110,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby trials.
“We’ve also seen the Futurity grade improve from an R3 to an R2 over the past couple of years,” Sherwood added.
Both TQHA Futurity and Derby trials are exclusive to foals sired by stallions that were part of the TQHA Stallion Auction during the foals’ breeding year.
“The success of these races would not be possible without the many stallion farms and owners who donate breedings to our annual TQHA Race Stallion Service Auction,” said Sherwood. “Those stallions are also eligible for stallion awards, which in 2025 total over $39,000.”
Friday proved the biggest wagering day of the meet. The export handle reached $679,899, marking the second-largest all-time handle for a Quarter Horse-only card at Retama Park. The figure represented a 54% increase over last year’s Friday export total. On-track handle that night also climbed to $99,256, up from $70,443 in 2024.
Overall, the three-day meet generated $1,654,366 in total handle, a 19.7% increase from the same weekend last year. Saturday drew the largest crowd, with 2,960 fans in attendance, a nearly 58% jump over 2024.
Despite a slight dip in Thursday’s off-track numbers, every other handle and attendance metric posted solid year-over-year growth. The strong showing reflects rising momentum as Retama Park heads into closing weekend.
Saturday’s card at Retama Park wasn’t just about the races—it was a full day of community and family engagement. In the afternoon, the LOPE Youth Education Event offered K–12 students and their families a hands-on introduction to racing life, with pony demonstrations, barn tours, and insightful Q&As featuring track professionals like outrider Cecilia Ramirez.
As the sun went down, the grandstand came alive with Family Fun Night, complete with pony rides, face painting, bounce castles, a petting zoo, games, and more—making it one of the most festive nights of the meet.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1: $223,000 TQHA SIRES CUP FUTURITY-RG2 TRIALS
Eight trial races were held on Friday for one of ten spots in the $223,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity (RG2) final. The 350-yard event is restricted to juveniles sired by participating stallions.
Topping the qualifiers was The Lion Kingg, a sorrel gelding by champion Tempting Dash who remains undefeated in three starts. He posted the fastest time of the evening in the sixth trial under jockey Nestor Duran. He led the field from gate to wire with a strong drive right out of the gates, clocking a 93 speed index in 17.881 seconds against a five mph headwind.
Trainer Dimas Sanchez saddled The Lion Kingg for owner J.A. Racing LLC. The trial victory boosted his earnings to $25,920. Ross Roark bred $97,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate in Louisiana out of Tres Of Jess, by Tres Seis.
Second fastest qualifier was The Valiant Flame, who led the field from first call in trial 7 under the guidance of Jose Herbert. The daughter of The Louisiana Cartel won by three-quarters of a length in 17.883 seconds, clocking a 93 speed index.
A finalist in the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge, The Valiant Flame has two wins and one second from four starts with career earnings of $20,987. Bred and owned by Torres Buildings in Texas, she is out of Valiant Flame by Valiant Hero.
Rounding out the top three was Sam Houston Futurity (G2) runner-up Flawless Grace, who delivered a commanding performance in the fifth trial. With jockey Nestor Duran in the irons, she pulled away to win by 2¼ lengths with the third-fastest qualifying time of 17.891 seconds.
The Oklahoma-bred daughter of leading first-crop sire Dulce Sin Tacha is trained by Al Ray Watson for owner Rolando Resendez. She was bred by Kelly Yother Equine LLC out of Heroic Grace by Apollitical Jess. With three wins in five starts, Flawless Grace has banked $167,635.
The final starting position for the August 16 final was determined by a shake between Cm Heavenly Cowboy and Won Salty Corona, who posted identical times of 18.171 seconds in separate trials, tying for the 10th-fastest clocking of the night. Won Salty Corona won the outcome, joining the rest of the field in the lucrative RG2 Futurity.
Final Order of Qualifiers – $223,000 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity (RG2) Trials
(Includes sex, time, and reformatted pedigree only)
- The Lion Kingg, g., :17.881 – (Tempting Dash – Tres Of Jess, by Tres Seis)
- The Valiant Flame, f., :17.883 – (The Louisiana Cartel – Valiant Flame, by Valiant Hero)
- Flawless Grace, f., :17.891 – (Dulce Sin Tacha – Heroic Grace, by Apollitical Jess)
- Fire Chilitos, g., :17.902 – (Chilitos – Fire Falls, by Walk Thru Fire)
- Karma Cha Ching, f., :17.937 – (Pa Cha Ching – Marthas First Corona, by Tinys First Corona)
- Di Kvn Waven, f., :17.985 – (Kvn Corona – Waven Bye Piloto, by Mr Piloto)
- Prize Time Lelo, c., :17.989 – (Pyc Prize Time – Cosmo Lela, by Cosmograph)
- Kas He Tells You, g., :17.993 – (Tell Cartel – Beaukas, by Make It Anywhere)
- Texana Eagle 747, f., :18.114 – (This Is An Eagle – Senorita Corona Chic, by Chief Corona)
- Won Salty Corona, g., :18.171 – (Kvn Corona – Won Way Street, by Mr Jess Perry)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 – $110,000 TQHA SIRES CUP DERBY TRIALS
Three competitive trials were held on Saturday for the $110,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby, with the ten fastest 3-year-olds sired by participating stallions securing spots in the 400-yard final to be run on Sunday, August 16.
Eagles Up posted the fastest qualifying time of the day, winning the second trial in 20.243 seconds under jockey Luis Vivanco. The post-time favorite from trial two dueled early before pulling clear for a ½-length victory over Dm Chasing Money, earning a 94 speed index for his effort.
Trainer Jose Sanchez saddled the son of champion sire One Famous Eagle for owners Mario Vazquez and Jumonville Farms.
Eagles Up colt placed second in the Evangeline Downs Futurity (G2) last year and third in the Sam Houston Derby (G3) two races back. He has lit the board eight of ten starts with four wins and earned $112,743 in earnings. Bred by Jumonville Farms, the $75,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate is out of U R Blue by Walk Thru Fire.
From the opening trial, Marfalous, piloted by Victor Urieta, Jr, defeated Custom Maid Miss to set the second-fastest clocking of 20.288. Owned by Leviram Racing LLC and trained by Dimas Sanchez, the four-time stakes finalist has earned $98,362 from ten starts.
Bred by Juan M Jr. and Jairo Lozano, Marfalous is out of Mystical Desire by Desirio. He was a $10,000 repurchase at the 2023 TQHA Yearling Sale.
Second to Eagles up, Dm Chasing Money was ridden by Froyal Tellez Ramirez, achieving the third fastest time of the day. The homebred gelding by This Is An Eagle, out of Dm Maryanna by The Louisiana Cartel, races for owner-breeder Donna Mushinski. Kie Mushinski conditions the stakes-placed Texas-bred gelding.
Final Order of Qualifiers – $110,000 TQHA Sires Cup Derby
(Includes sex, age, time, and reformatted pedigree)
- Eagles Up, c., 3, :20.243 – (One Famous Eagle – U R Blue, by Walk Thru Fire)
- Marfalous, g., 3, :20.288 – (The Marfa Lights – Mystical Desire, by Desirio)
- Dm Chasing Money, g., 3, :20.312 – (This Is An Eagle – Dm Maryanna, by The Louisiana Cartel)
- Flyin Chilitos, g., 3, :20.402 – (Chilitos – Sensational Senator, by Louisiana Senator)
- Jds Roustabout, g., 3, :20.449 – (Bolt of Fire – Twisted Dash, by Tempting Dash)
- Flirtacious Showboat, f., 3, :20.458 – (Kiss My Hocks – Splish Splash, by Ivory James)
- Custom Maid Miss, f., 3, :20.459 – (Mister Fulton – Special Menace Miss, by Executive Menace)
- Tres Wines, g., 3, :20.471 – (Tres Seis – Painted Wine Wagon, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon)
- Rios Dashing Spirit, f., 3, :20.478 – (Apollitical Spirit – Rios Dashing Patty, by Heza Fast Dash)
- Standout, g., 3, :20.489 – (Gold Heart Eagle V – Executive Promises, by Executive Menace)
THURSDAY, JULY 31 RACE RECAP:
COLORS OF THE ALAMO P&A FUTURITY-G3 TRIALS
Mrs Pyc Painted Nova delivered the fastest qualifying time on Thursday evening, leading the field into the finals of the $69,590 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G3. The daughter of Little Pyc broke sharply in the final trial and powered away by three-quarters of a length, stopping the clock in 18.155 seconds.
Bred and owned in Texas by Michael and Maci Read, Mrs Pyc Painted Nova is out of Get Down Jessie, by Get Down Perry. The filly is trained by Randall R. Read and was ridden by Ali Rivera, who guided her to a sharp gate-to-wire score. From seven starts, she now has three wins and a third-place finish in the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2, fourth in the TPHBA Juvenile Stakes, and was a finalist in the Victoria Ennis Memorial-G2 earlier this summer. Her earnings currently stand at $22,911.
Final Order of Qualifiers – $69,590 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity
(Includes sex, time, and reformatted pedigree)
- Mrs Pyc Painted Nova, f., 18.155 – (Little Pyc – Get Down Jessie, by Get Down Perry)
- Sinnin Hot Pepper, c., 18.241 – (Chilitos – Sinnin Bill, by Pf Lucky Billy)
- Miss Nely, f., 18.284 – (Chilitos – Shakair, by Dashair)
- Go Zippalitas, f., 18.312 – (Chilitos – Ms Marshall Lewis, by Moon Shake)
- Crb Wagon Shaker, c., 18.397 – (Wagon Tales – Do The Harlem Shake, by Sm Country Snowman)
- I Do Not Recall, g., 18.418 – (Chilitos – Fly Lil Curl, by Spit Curl Jess)
- Vp Dash For Texas, g., 18.432 – (Pyc Prize Time – Gw Money Dash, by Dr Beduino)
- Chieftainess, f., 18.482 – (Chilitos – Chief Lark, by Chief Corona)
- Jackson Davis 747, c., 18.510 – (Chilitos – Shes A Cartel Girl, by The Louisiana Cartel)
- Chill Chill, f., 18.536 – (Chilitos – Train 214, by Freighttrain B)
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Military Appreciation Night (free admission for Active and Veteran Military and first Responders) is every Thursday. The Diamond Dig presented by Americus Diamond will be on Friday, August 8, and Wiener Dog Races are on Saturday, August 16, closing night. CLICK HERE for the remaining stakes schedule.
