The highly anticipated Texas Summer Showdown will be held at Retama Park on Friday, July 25. This event will feature seven Quarter Horse stakes races, including two restricted Grade 2 events: the $60,000 TQHA Classic and the $50,000 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes. Live racing is scheduled to begin at 6:15 PM, immediately following the first day of the TQHA Yearling Sale.
Among the evening’s seven stakes events, five undercard races will showcase the competitive fields of Accredited Texas-breds and TQHA sale graduates. Highlighting the evening will be the $50,000 TQHA 550 Stakes-RG3. The other four races include the $50,000 Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women, the $50,000 TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes, the $50,000 TQHA 250 Stakes, and the $30,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes.
Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame and TQHA will host a “Wine & Torchtree Bourbon Tasting” at Retama from 6 to 9 PM on Friday during the races. Tickets can be purchased on Thursday and Friday at the TQHA Sales by visiting the Hall of Fame table.
“We love hosting all the Horsemen and Texas Quarter Horse Association members during this weekend and look forward to seeing all of them in San Antonio,” said Retama Park Vice President and General Manager Bryan Pettigrew
Hollywoode Heads Field For $60,000 Restricted Grade 2 TQHA Classic
Friday night’s 10th race at Retama Park will feature the $60,000 restricted Grade 2 TQHA Classic Stakes, a 400-yard showdown for accredited Texas-bred Quarter Horses aged three and up. Scheduled with a 10:18 p.m. (CDT) approximate post time, the race caps the stakes-filled Texas Summer Showdown Series of races at Retama.
A field of talented sprinters will line up in the Classic, led by the red-hot Hollywoode (5-2), who comes in off a determined victory in the $55,000 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes on June 14 at Sam Houston.
The 4-year-old gray gelding by multiple stakes sire Hawkeye out of Thriving Ivory by Ivory James was bred by Bobby D. Cox and purchased for $33,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale. Owned by Leobersi Perez and trained by Fernando Lopez, Hollywoode surged to win that race by a neck over fellow Classic entrants Hes A Jet One and Top Cowboy, earning a 101 speed index.
With Yaidel Rodriguez back aboard, Hollywoode has compiled 4 wins and 3 seconds from 9 starts, including qualifying for the Grade 3 $238,000 EVD Futurity at Evangeline Downs last fall. The distance specialist is 2-for-4 at 400 yards and appears to be peaking at the right time.
His main rival is Hes A Jet One (3-1), a seasoned 5-year-old son of champion Ec Jet One out of Shez Dead Serious by Swingin Jess, bred and owned by Pete A. Scarmardo.
Trained by John A. Stinebaugh and ridden by Ali Rivera, Hes A Jet One was just a head behind Hollywoode in the Willie Hickman and finished third in the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) and $50,000 Eastex Stakes (G2) earlier this year.
With 8 wins and over $286,000 in earnings from 30 starts, he brings both class and consistency to the gate.
Also dangerous is Top Cowboy (5-1), a 4-year-old gelding by leading third-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123. Bred by Tyler & Naia Graham and owned by Rodrigo Gonzalez and Leviram Racing LLC, he is out of Paradice City by Pyc Paint Your Wagon.
He ran third behind Hollywoode and Hes A Jet One in the Willie Hickman after dueling early and weakening late. Trained by Edith A. Mojica and ridden by Luis L. Vivanco, Top Cowboy has three wins, two seconds, and four thirds from 14 starts, and he posted a strong runner-up finish in a 2024 Texas Classic Derby trial.
The TQHA Classic offers a lucrative purse and prestige, with 60% of the $60,000 pot going to the winner.
Eye Will Decide Headlines $50,000 Benny Pennington Memorial-RG2
A competitive field of accredited Texas-breds is set to square off in the $50,000 Grade 2 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes. The 870-yard event for three-year-olds and up is carded as Race 9 with a scheduled post time of 9:51 p.m. (CDT).
Headlining the field at 5-2 on the morning line is Eye Will Decide, a 7-year-old gelding by Majestic Cartel. He enters off a narrow loss in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston, where he dueled gamely to miss by a head while earning a 96 speed index.
Prior to that, Eye Will Decide posted an easy front-running three-length allowance win on May 29. Trained by Adan Guzman, the bay gelding will again team up with Froylan Ramirez, who guided him to both recent efforts.
Eye Will Decide has banked $180,520 in his 28-race career and excelled going the 870-yard distance with five wins and three placings from 13 attempts. Bred in Texas by owner Bryon Gardner, he is out of Valiant Lil Lady by Valiant Hero.
Second choice at 7-2 is Gladiator, a consistent 6-year-old gelding by Flyin Color out of Bling Bling Bok by Boknaai. Bred, owned, and trained by John Boegner, Gladiator was a dominant winner in his July 17 comeback, drawing away by nearly four lengths in an 870-yard allowance at Retama.
He previously hit the board in back-to-back starts at Lone Star, including a strong third in October’s optional claiming test. Adrian Morales retains the mount on the veteran, who boasts three wins and four additional top-three finishes in 22 starts with $52,009 in career earnings.
The 9-2 third choice is Gjr Rooster, a 4-year-old gelding by This Is An Eagle out of the Thoroughbred mare Granny Grump by A Little Illegal. Bred in Texas by Gerald Rich and purchased for $15,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, Gjr Rooster is owned by Richard Young, Joe David Yates, and trainer Zack Stinebaugh.
He’s been a model of consistency this year, finishing third in the June 14 Jesse Yoakum Memorial and third in the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge at Sam Houston in May. Jockey Ali Rivera, aboard for both those efforts, has the return call. Gjr Rooster has hit the board in 10 of 15 lifetime starts while earning $54,974.
The Benny Pennington Memorial, named in honor of the respected Texas horseman, drew a full field of eight. The race will be run around the turn at 870 yards on the main track.
TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes – Race 4
Purse: $50,000 | Distance: 400 yards | Approx. Post: 7:36 p.m.
A full field of 3-year-olds who passed through the 2023 TQHA Yearling Sale line up in the $50,000 TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes, with recent rivals Fabulous Casina (4-1) and Celebratingtheeagle (3-1) meeting again after a thrilling finish in last month’s La Villita Stakes. Fabulous Casina prevailed by a head that evening, while Celebratingtheeagle has hit the board in all three 2025 starts, including a close third in the Old South Derby.
The Leaders An Eagle (5-1) ran third in the Silver Bullet Stakes and has won two of his last four. Longshot value may come from Enshilada (10-1), who surged late to win a Houston allowance in June, or Apollitical Lelo (12-1), a lightly raced colt who impressed in a maiden score at Retama.
Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes – Race 5
Purse: $30,000 | Distance: 350 yards | Approx. Post: 8:03 p.m.
Undefeated in four starts since a March claim, Jlc Simon Says Run (5-2) enters the Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes as the one to beat, having dominated recent starter-level contests at Remington and Fair Meadows. The 3-year-old filly faces a deep group of older and seasoned Texas-breds, including Imma Sweet Diva (7-2), who captured consecutive allowance events at Sam Houston.
Akiles (4-1) finished second to Goodtime in Texas (4-1) two starts ago and brings solid recent figures. Proprietor (9-2) was a sharp claiming winner earlier this month, and Filly Gaga (8-1) has hit the board in both 2025 starts. Veteran sprinters like Jess Jj Watt Aw (10-1), Reckless Prize (30-1), and Corona Tres Eagle (15-1) also add depth to the 12-horse field.
TQHA 250 Stakes – Race 6
Purse: $50,000 | Distance: 250 yards | Approx. Post: 8:30 p.m.
A stakes sprint filled with early zip and recent stakes winners, the TQHA 250 Stakes is headlined by Ima Chili (5-2), who has reeled off wins in the Silver Bullet and Sam Houston 250 Stakes. The 3-year-old gelding is unbeaten at the distance and continues to improve with each start.
Cc Valiant (7-2) has been second in consecutive high-level Louisiana stakes, including the Old South Derby. Goodtime in Texas (4-1), a three-time winner this season, narrowly missed to Ima Chili last out. You Look Famous (5-1), a multiple stakes-placed mare, returns to her best distance after competing at 350 and 400 yards. Also in the mix are Jj Jessa Dynasty (12-1), Jess Louisiana Girl (12-1), and Embers Time (10-1), a past winner of the JNB Buchanan Stakes.
Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women – Race 7
Purse: $50,000 | Distance: 400 yards | Approx. Post: 8:57 p.m.
The Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women for Texas-bred fillies and mares features a wide-open affair led by Cowgurl Up (9-2), who finished a strong third in the Sam Houston 250 and captured back-to-back wins earlier this season. Magic Apollitical (8-1), a futurity finalist last year, is looking to bounce back from a tough outing at Remington in May.
Other contenders include Trixiee (8-1), with multiple stakes placings to her name, and First Time for Wine (5-2), who has held her own in open stakes competition.
TQHA 550 Stakes(RG3) – Race 8
Purse: $50,000 | Distance: 550 yards | Approx. Post: 9:24 p.m
Veteran router Onthrocks (3-1) returns to defend his crown in the Grade 3 TQHA 550 Stakes, fresh off a driving win in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes and a solid third in the Gary Baber Memorial. The 6-year-old gelding is a 7-time winner at this distance and boasts 3 wins from 5 starts over the Retama strip.
Trainer Kie Mushinski sends out Dm Preacher Man (4-1), who ran a close second to Onthrocks in June and has hit the board in 5 of 9 starts at this distance. Lz King of the Kings (9-2), a consistent runner, was third in the Sam Houston 550.
Jess Rite (6-1) rallied for fourth in the Gary Baber and owns three wins locally, while Thrill and Fury (8-1) has won twice at this distance and exits a fourth-place finish in the 870-yard San Marcos. Improving 3-year-old Daybreak N Dash (10-1) steps into stakes company after a maiden win going 870 yards.
Rounding out the field are Jess Regard (12-1), Captain Tlc Aw (20-1), setting up a competitive and deep renewal of this traditional Texas router showcase.
The 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale Set for July 24-26
The Texas Quarter Horse Association is set to host its 28th Annual TQHA Yearling Sale, a marquee event on the American Quarter Horse calendar. The sale is scheduled for July 24–26, 2025, at the Freeman Expo Hall in San Antonio, Texas.
The multi-day event will offer 438 catalogued yearlings, split across two sessions. Known for showcasing the best Texas-bred racing stock, the TQHA Yearling Sale consistently draws top-tier buyers and breeders from across the region and beyond.
Attendees are invited to the presale Consignor and Buyer BBQ, which will begin at 4 PM on Thursday, July 24. The TQHA Yearling Sale will commence at 10 AM on both Friday and Saturday, with Hips 1-219 being auctioned on Friday and Hips 220-438 on Saturday.
Stakes Races Continue Throughout The Weekend
Live racing at Retama Park will begin each day at 6:15 PM from Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26, following the sale each day.
Thursday night festivities will include the Firecracker Sprint, the Arabian Stakes race, and Military Appreciation Night, which offers free admission to all active duty and veteran military personnel in honor of their service.
Friday will highlight the Texas Summer Showdown, which includes seven scheduled Quarter Horse stakes races. The weekend will conclude with the TQHA Sale Futurity, TQHA Sale Juvenile, and Retama Park Derby, making it a packed schedule of stakes racing.
The remaining 2025 Retama Park Quarter Horse stakes schedule, including finals and trials dates, is listed below. More details on the schedule of racing dates, post times, and promotions can be found on www.RetamaPark.com.
