Retama crowd celebrates an all-Quarter Horse card featuring seven stakes races, two repeat champions, and standout rides from Rivera and Sanchez.
Retama Park came alive Friday night as the Summer Showdown delivered ten races, including seven stakes events, making for an action-packed evening of live Quarter Horse racing. Following Thursday’s program, including the Firecracker Sprint Stakes for Arabians, Friday’s all-Quarter Horse card kicked off the biggest weekend of the season at the Texas track, drawing a festive and engaged crowd.
Many TQHA Yearling Sale attendees were in the grandstand after the conclusion of Friday’s opening sale session. Thousands of fans were on hand for the evening’s festivities, enjoying a lively atmosphere enhanced by tastings of wine and Torchtree Bourbon, hosted by the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the TQHA, which added a refined social element to the night’s racing.
Wagering totals reflected strong engagement from both on-site and remote fans. Retama Park reported an on-track handle of $88,712.30 and an off-track handle of $474,195.46, bringing the total Friday night handle to $562,907.76. That marks a roughly 3.5% increase in total handle compared to last year, highlighting the growing reach of Retama Park’s marquee event.
Two horses successfully defended their titles in restricted graded stakes. Onthrocks captured his third consecutive victory in the TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3). Hes Ec Jet One returned to win the TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2) for the second year.
Jockeys Ali Rivera and Eddie Sanchez each recorded two wins on the evening. Rivera wrapped up the night with back-to-back restricted Grade 2 stakes victories, first aboard Gjr Rooster in the Benny Pennington Memorial (RG2), and then on Hes Ec Jet One in the TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2). Sanchez scored an early win aboard Eye On The Lights in a maiden event in Race 3 and later guided Onthrocks to victory in the TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3).
When asked about his double stakes wins, Rivera said, “It was a mix of emotions. Hollering, smiles… I am very grateful and blessed. It was a long night, but thank the good Lord we ended it on a good note.”
SUMMER SHOWDOWN STAKES RACING RECAP
The night was highlighted by three restricted graded events: the $65,400 TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2), the Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes (RG2), and the $56,000 TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3), which carried the highest purse since the race’s inception in 2012. The four remaining stakes on the card included the $58,500 TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes, the $34,950 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes, the $58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes and the $57,125 Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women.
$58,500 TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes
Fabulous Casina turned in a dominant performance under Froylan Ramirez, winning by 1½ lengths in 20.186 seconds with a 95 speed index despite a 10 mph headwind. This marked her second consecutive stakes win and fourth victory in five starts this year. She previously captured the La Villita Stakes in June and has now banked $95,043 from ten career starts. Bred by Bobby Myers out of Bm Casina Royale by PYC Paint Your Wagon, she was purchased by owner Thomas Tiller for $14,000 at the 2023 TQHA Yearling Sale and is trained by Brittany Tellez.
Apollitical Lelo finished second after a determined effort under Luis Ruiz. Celebratingtheeagle earned her third stakes placing of the year in third. The remaining finishers were The Leaders An Eagle (4th) and Enshilada (5th). Coronita Stone was scratched.
$34,950 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes
Zef Lucky Seis shocked the field with a head-bobbing upset victory, stopping the clock in 18.078 seconds over 350 yards for a speed index of 88. The 5-year-old son of Here Is The Son returned $83.00 to win and earned $20,970 for the effort—his first career stakes win. Trained and owned by Arturo Garcia, the gelding was making his 22nd career start under jockey H. Hernandez and now boasts lifetime earnings of $47,896. He was bred in Texas by Zeferino T. Garcia.
Akiles just missed at the wire in a hard-fought second-place finish. Jlc Simon Says Run, the race favorite, settled for third. Also ran: Filly Gaga, Corona Tres Eagle, Jess Jj Watt Aw, Dm Special Hawk.
$58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes
Embers Time delivered a late surge to capture her second stakes win of the season over post-time favorite Ima Chili. She clocked a 103 speed index in 13.270 seconds over the 250-yard distance. Ridden by Alejandro Ochoa and trained by Martin Rodriguez for owner Javier Lujan, the daughter of PYC Prize Time added $35,175 to her career bankroll, which now stands at $128,203. She previously won the John Buchanan Memorial and placed in both the Miss Sam Houston and La Villita Stakes this season. A $5,000 TQHA Yearling Sale bargain, she’s proving herself as a standout filly.
Ima Chili dueled early and held for second, a length back. Jj Jessa Dynasty was third. The rest of the field included Famous Corona Winner, Goodtime In Texas, Jess Louisiana Girl, Cc Valiant, Lucky Larry, and You Look Famous. Scratched: Dakota Gurl and Diamondbacked.
$57,125 Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women
Cowgurl Up fought through a fierce blanket finish to win by a nose in 20.149 seconds and earn a 96 speed index in the 400-yard dash for older Texas-bred mares. Carlos Lopez trains the 4-year-old daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 for breeder/owner P & J Racing Ltd. She made her ninth start under Raul Hernandez, Jr, achieving her fourth career win, which paid $34,275. A $95,000 TQHA Yearling Sale purchase, she has now earned $78,534 in total earnings.
Magic Apollitical was narrowly denied in a strong runner-up effort, while veteran mare First Time For Wine rallied late for third. Also finishing: Ladys Gotta Jet, Trixiee, Quick Lights, Dm Bella Star, Lipstick Promise, Tiffany Twistedd.
$56,000 TQHA 550 Stakes-RG3
Onthrocks reaffirmed his dominance at 550 yards with a gritty repeat victory for the third consecutive year in the $56,000 TQHA 550 Stakes-RG3 With Eddie Sanchez in the pilot’s seat, Onthrocks held off a late surge by Jess Rite to win the 550 stakes by a neck. The six-year-old son of A Revenant stopped the clock in 27.708 seconds, earning a 99 speed index.
Racing into an eight mph headwind, Onthrocks captured the lion’s share of the purse—$33,600—for owner Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio. Bred in Texas by Ware Racing & Ranching LLC, he is out of Stol a Bunny, by Stoli.
His victory adds to an already impressive campaign that includes wins in the 2023, 2024, and now 2025 editions of the TQHA 550 as well as the Sam Houston 550 Stakes in June. The six-time stakes winner also earned a third-place finish in the Gary Baber Memorial Stakes and was a finalist in the Sam Houston Classic Stakes-G2 earlier this season.
Runner-up honors went to Jess Rite, a five-year-old gelding by One Sweet Jess. The bay gelding is bred and owned by Rose Mary Chandler out of Twig, by Oak Tree Special. Trained by Tammy Johnson and ridden by Victor Urieta, Jr., the margin was a neck behind the winner, and the second-place check pushes his earnings past $134,000. A finalist in eight stakes races, Jess Rite won the 2023 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes-G2 and has hit the board in both the Sam Houston 550 and Gary Baber Memorial this season.
Finishing third was Dm Preacher Man, another six-year-old gelding by A Revenant, ridden by Eliazar Vera. He is out of Mary La Jolla, by Streakin La Jolla. The brown gelding is bred and owned in Texas by Donna Mushinski. Trained by Kie Mushinski, Dm Preacher Man was second to Onthrocks in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes and finished fifth in the Gary Baber Memorial earlier this summer.
The remaining order of finish is Captain Tlc Aw, Lz King of the Kings, Thrill and Fury (disqualified from 4th), Daybreak N Dash, and Jess Regard.
$56,000 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes-RG2
GJR Rooster surged to a commanding victory in the $56,000 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes-RG2, overpowering a field of Accredited Texas-bred Quarter Horses three years old and up at a distance of 870 yards.
The 4-year-old gelding seized the lead early from post position one and never looked back, coasting home under jockey Ali Rivera to win by 2 3/4 lengths. His final time of 45.955 seconds, earned a 95-speed index despite facing a ten-mile-per-hour headwind.
Trained by Zack Stinebaugh, who also co-owns the horse along with Richard Young and Joe David Yates, GJR Rooster earned $33,600 for the victory. Bred in Texas by Gerald Rich, the bay gelding is by This Is An Eagle out of Granny Grump (TB), a daughter of A Little Illegal (TB).
“We had to monitor his speed at the turn,” said Stinebaugh after the race. “But we had the one hole, so that was nice. He wanted Ali to go to the lead early, and he did, so it worked out great.” Rivera added, “Like Zack said, he asked, and I delivered.”
It was the second win in 16 starts for GJR Rooster, who boosted his earnings to $88,574. He was purchased for $15,500 at the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale.
Finishing second was Big Daddy Dan, a gray 4-year-old gelding by Kiss My Hocks out of Ms Realitos (TB), by Dayjur (TB). Bred by Jones Alto Colorado Ranch LLC and owned by Alto Colorado Racing LLC, Big Daddy Dan was trained by Tammy Johnson and ridden by Victor Urieta, Jr. He chased the winner gamely from the inside, stopping the clock to earn $11,200, boosting his total earnings to $50,368 after 10 career starts.
Veteran runner Eye Will Decide closed late along the rail to finish third, 2 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up. The 7-year-old gelding, bred and owned by Bryon Gardner, is by Majestic Cartel out of Valiant Lil Lady by Valiant Hero. Trained by Adan Guzman and ridden by Froylan Ramirez, the multiple stakes winner has won seven of 29 starts and earned $180,520
Following the top three finishers were Master Reigns in fourth, Determined fifth, Gladiator sixth, Rock Solid Stones seventh, and Dash Happens eighth.
$65,400 TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2
With a determined rally through a stiff 12-mph headwind, Hes A Jet One surged home to take the TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2 for the second year in a row. The 5-year-old sorrel gelding earned the winner’s share of the $65,400 purse while covering the 400-yard distance in 20.254 seconds over a fast track, earning a speed index of 93.
Bred and owned by Pete A. Scarmardo of Texas, Hes A Jet One is a son of champion Ec Jet One and out of the Swingin Jess mare Shez Dead Serious. The homebred, trained by John Stinebaugh and ridden to victory by Ali Rivera, dueled gamely and edged clear late to win by a neck.
He earned $39,240 for the victory, boosting the multiple stakes winner’s earnings to $326,091. He now boasts a record of 9-8-4 from 31 starts, including four stakes wins, two of which were in the TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2. He also won last year’s B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes-G3 and Dr Glenn Blodgett Stakes.
This victory marks his first stakes win of the 2025 season. Previously, he secured a second place in the Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes and a third place in the King William Stakes (G3). He also finished fifth in the Leo Stakes (G1) and the King William Stakes (G3) this year.
Hes A Jet One was a $62,000 repurchase in the 2021 TQHA Yearling Sale.
Scarmardo was all smiles in the winner’s circle following the gelding’s effort. “I feel pretty good. It’s always nice to win a stakes race like this. I am proud of the horse; he ran really well tonight,” he said.
For trainer John Stinebaugh, who has been splitting time between Texas and New Mexico in recent weeks, the win was also a tribute to teamwork. “I have to give credit where credit is due, to my whole team here. Ali and I have been busy in Ruidoso due to the flooding. My son (Zack) stepped up and has really done a great job,” said Stinebaugh.
Second-place finisher Th Mai Tai Tom is a 5-year-old sorrel gelding by Fulton Special out of Th de Streakinjessia by Jess Louisiana Blue. Bred by Raymond Hamilton, he races for Edwin Ibarra and is trained by Arturo Garcia. Javier Hernandez had the riding assignment as Th Mai Tai Tom posted a final time to boost his bankroll to $66,913.
Hollywoode, a gray 4-year-old colt by Hawkeye, finished third for owner Leobersi Perez and trainer Fernando Lopez. Out of Thriving Ivory by Ivory James, and bred by Bobby D. Cox, Hollywoode was purchased for $33,000 at the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale. Yaidel Rodriguez guided the colt to his third-place finish, and coming off back-to-back wins, he has earned $103,853.
The also-rans in the field of six were Grace N Dash in fourth, Top Cowboy in fifth, and Misterz Cashmaster in sixth.
TQHA YEARLING SALE – OPENING SESSION RECAP
Friday’s opening session of the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale saw 130 yearlings sold from a catalog of 205, totaling just over $2.25 million in gross sales. The average landed at $17,322, with a median of $9,250 — while still healthy, the numbers declined from last year’s record-setting pace.
Topping the session was Hip 195, a colt named Kosta Browne, who brought a final bid of $128,000. The FDD Dynasty colt is out of Ms Highmaitenance, a daughter of Favorite Cartel, and was consigned by Granada Farms, Agent for Tyler and Nala Graham. He was purchased by Tungsten Racing Partnership.
The second-highest seller was Hip 86, Not A Little Deal, a Dealagame colt out of Little Affection by Jodys Money Pop. Also consigned by Granada Farms for Tyler and Nala Graham, he was hammered down at $100,000 to Rey Munoz.
Closing out the top three was Hip 160, Eyema Special Eagle, a colt by One Famous Eagle out of Eyema Special Candy, a daughter of Oak Tree Special. Consigned by Robicheaux Ranch Inc., Agent for Simmons Racing, the colt went to JLT Horse Racing for $97,000.
Rey Munoz ended the day as the session’s leading buyer with two purchases totaling $172,000. Tungsten Racing and JLT Horse Racing each made one purchase for $128,000 and $97,000, respectively.
Granada Farms, Agent for Tyler and Nala Graham, led all consignors by gross, selling two standout colts for a combined total of $228,000. Bielau Oaks, Agent, moved eleven head for $131,800, while Bobby D. Cox sold three yearlings for $108,000.
