The $614,500 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1 and $205,300 Retama Derby will run Saturday, July 26, at Retama Park in Selma, Texas. The two lucrative finals will immediately follow the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale, which is held July 25–26 at Freeman Exposition Hall in San Antonio, Texas.
I B A Big Girl Sets Time To Beat In The $614,485 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1
Following eleven competitive trials run at Retama Park on Saturday, July 12—rescheduled from their original date due to inclement weather—the ten fastest 2-year-olds who passed through the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale will return for the restricted Grade 1 $614,485 TQHA Sale Futurity final on Saturday, July 26.
The 350-yard final is one of the richest and most anticipated races of the Retama Park meet for juveniles.
Setting the bar in the trials was I B A Big Girl, a gray filly by New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel, who stopped the clock in 18.004 seconds to secure the fastest qualifying time. She is out of I B Jessie Jane by Jesse James Jr.
Trainer John A. Stinebaugh saddled the Texas-bred filly for owners/breeders Shane and Barbee Beer. Gilberto Linares was aboard for the trial win in the second heat, where I B A Big Girl drove clear to a one-length victory over a strong field.
A $70,000 repurchase at the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale, I B A Big Girl has won two of four starts and banked $16,781.
The second-fastest qualifier, Eagle On A June Bug, posted an impressive time of 18.024 in the opening trial of the evening. The sorrel gelding by multiple stakes sire Eagles Fly Higher races for Sergio Jimenez and Enrique Santollo and is conditioned by Victor Oviedo. After dueling early, H. Javier Hernandez guided the gelding to a strong driving finish.
A $20,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate, Eagle On A June Bug has won two of three starts and banked $67,916 after finishing second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity in March. He was bred in Texas by Robert T. Moudy III out of Sandy June Bug by Blushing Bug.
Completing the top three fastest times is $17,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate Brother Gaga, who lit up the board at long odds in the eleventh and final trial with a game effort of 18.068 seconds. The sorrel gelding is by This Is An Eagle, out of Papa Larrys Girl by Papa Larry.
Bred in Texas by Billy Dan Dodd and owned by Alfredo Cantu, Brother Gaga is trained by Jorge Luis Muniz and was ridden by Alejandro Ochoa. The gelding dueled throughout before digging in gamely to hold off late challengers and break his maiden in his third career start.
Here is the complete list of qualifiers for the $614,485 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1 finals.
I B A Big Girl, f (:18.004) Sale Price: $70,000 RNA
Big Daddy Cartel – I B Jessie Jane, by Jesse James Jr
O: Barbee Beer & Shane Beer T: John A. Stinebaugh B: Shane and/or Barbee Beer (TX) J: Gilberto Linares
Eagle On a June Bug, g (:18.024) Sale Price: $20,000
Eagles Fly Higher – Sandy June Bug, by Blushing Bug
O: Sergio Jimenez & Enrique Santollo T: Victor Oviedo B: Robert T Moudy III (TX) J: H. Javier Hernandez
Brother Gaga, g (:18.068) Sale Price: $17,000
This Is An Eagle – Papa Larrys Girl, by Papa Larry
O: Alfredo Cantu T: Jorge Luis Muniz B: Billy Dan Dodd (TX) J: Alejandro Ochoa
Wera C, f (:18.087) Sale Price: $73,000
Flying Cowboy 123 – Pillow Talk, by One Dashing Eagle
O: CH Horse Racing, LLC T: Patrick L. Clemons B: Ellis H “Hank” Bird (TX) J: Nestor Duran
Cliff Runner, f (:18.120) Sale Price: $9,000 RNA
The Fiscal Cliff – Jess Amy, by Feature Mr Jess
O: Robbie Lee Marquez T: Robert Monsivais B: Billy Dan Dodd (TX) J: Luis L. Vivanco
Shiny Cowgirl, f (:18.162) Sale Price: $58,000
Tempting Dash – Rise N Shine Cowgirl, by Apollitical Blood
O: Luis Armando Castellanos & Alfonso Rangel T: Patrick L. Clemons B: Simmons Racing (TX) J: Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
Tossin and Turnin, g (:18.171) Sale Price: $60,000
Kiss My Hocks – Queen Of The Kartel, by Carters Cartel
O: Carlos Ponce T: Patrick L. Clemons B: Jerry D Chapman (TX) J: Nestor Duran
La Chuchy, f (:18.180) Sale Price: $80,000
Kiss My Hocks – Love Ya Miss Jess, by Mr Jess Perry
O: Paragon Farms LLC T: S. Trey Wood B: Tony Hernandez (TX) J: Ruben Castro
A Maverick, g (:18.210) Sale Price: $24,000
A Revenant – Down Some Gold, by First Down Dash
O: Jose Martin Ramirez Garcia T: Yasmine M. Medina B: Triple K Farms (TX) J: Claudio Ponce Aguilar
Efforts Cartel, f (:18.223) Sale Price: $17,000 RNA
Five Bar Cartel – Efforts Courage, by Captain Courage
O: David Gutierrez T: Jose Sanchez B: David Gutierrez (TX) J: Eddie Sanchez
The second 10 fastest qualifiers from the TQHA Sale Futurity trials will also return on Saturday, July 26, to compete in the $50,000 TQHA Sale Juvenile. The top ten finalists are headlined by Shes Ec To Tempt (:18.231), a Tempting Dash filly trained by Patrick L. Clemons for breeder/owner Francisco Javier Garza, who clocked the fastest time. Also qualifying were Gainz (:18.244), Texas Pharaoh (:18.279), Hock Your Kisses (:18.279), Relentless Dasher (:18.297), Litenin (:18.307), Spott (:18.315), Holy Guacamolee (:18.320), Full Moon Desire (:18.320), and What The Fog (:18.328).
Dr Pepper 123 Fastest on Opening Night of Retama Park Derby Trials
Retama Park will also host the $205,300 Retama Park Derby, presented by Torchtree Bourbon, on Saturday, July 26. The Derby trials were held on July 2, the same weekend the Sale Futurity trials were scheduled initially before weather delays.
Leading the way was Dr Pepper 123, who clocked the fastest time of the night at 19.861, with a 104 speed index over a muddy racetrack. The gelding by Chilitos, out of My Glory Dash by Shazooms Glory Dash, is owned and bred by Mary Lou Zoeller of Texas. Trained by J.W. Plunkett and ridden by Noe Villatoro, Dr Pepper 123 scored by half a length after a sharp break and sustained drive.
Dr Pepper 123 came into the trials off a win in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby on June 14. He has won four of seven starts and earned $142,925.
El Senador Tequila recorded the second-fastest time in the trial, finishing behind Dr Pepper 123 with a clocking of 19.924 seconds. The son of Fly Thru The Fire is out of Remember The Cartel, by Corona Cartel. He was bred in California by Steve D. Burns, DVM, and currently races for owner Joe Ruiz Jr. Trainer Santiago Riojas Jr. called upon Luis Angel Flores-Garcia for the mount.
Dk Marney Jess posted the third-fastest time of 19.934 to qualify. The multiple graded stakes-winning filly by Apollitical Jess, out of Marney Jo by Corona Cartel, is owned by CH Horse Racing, LLC, and trained by Patrick L. Clemons. Nestor Duran rode her to a smooth and determined effort.
A winner of 9 of 12 starts, including the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity, Dk Marney Jess has banked over $570,000. She entered the trials off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Heritage Place Oaks on May 31.
Here is the complete list of qualifiers for the $205,300 Retama Park Derby final:
Dr Pepper 123, g (:19.861) Chilitos – My Glory Dash, by Shazooms Glory Dash
O: Mary Lou Zoeller T: J. W. Plunkett B: Mary Lou Zoeller (TX) J: Noe Villatoro
El Senador Tequila, g (:19.924) Fly Thru The Fire – Remember the Cartel, by Corona Cartel
O: Joe Ruiz, Jr. T: Santiago Riojas, Jr. B: Steve D Burns DVM (CA) J: Luis Angel Flores-Garcia
Dk Marney Jess, f (:19.934) Apollitical Jess – Marney Jo, by Corona Cartel
O: CH Horse Racing, LLC T: Patrick L. Clemons B: Cuadra La Presita (MEX) J: Nestor Duran
Apolitical Time, c (:19.975) Apollitical Jess – Breitling Time, by Fishers Dash
O: Jimenas Ranch T: Raul Ramirez B: Flag Ranch LLC (OK) J: Nestor Duran
This Eagles Armed, g (:20.027) This Is An Eagle – Empty Arms, by Tac It Like A Man
O: Pete A. Scarmardo T: John A. Stinebaugh B: Pete A. Scarmardo (TX) J: Ali Rivera
Texas Temper, g (:20.040) Tempting Dash – Lonestar Shaker, by Mr Jess Perry
O: Joe Ruiz, Jr. T: Santiago Riojas, Jr. B: Garlyn O Shelton (TX) J: Luis Angel Flores-Garcia
Who Wants Too Fancy, g (:20.073) Mr Fancy B – Who Wants To Be You, by Coronas Leaving You: Guerras Racing Stables T: Gilberto Gonzalez B: Guerras Racing Stable (TX) J: Jose R. Herbert
Valiente Stone, g (:20.122) Tempting Dash – Redneckedness, by Apollitical Jess
O: Rancho La Cobra T: Oscar Constancio, Jr. B: Rancho La Cobra (TX) J: Noe Villatoro
Nine One Won, g (:20.145) Tempting Dash – Not My Choice, by Jody O Toole
O: Jimenas Ranch T: Raul Ramirez B: Cindi M Keeton (TX) J: Nestor Duran
Monty Cristo, g (:20.160) Favorite Cartel – This Candys Okay, by Okey Dokey Dale
O: Carlos Hernandez Velasquez T: Braulio Hernandez B: Buck Way Ranch LLC (OK) J: Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.
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.
RETAMA PARK REMAINING STAKES SCHEDULE
7/25/25 – Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes-G3 – $50,000a
7/25/25 – Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes – $30,000a
7/25/25 – Miss Retama Stakes – $50,000a
7/25/25 – TQHA 250 Stakes – $50,000a
7/25/25 – TQHA Classic Stakes-G3 – $60,000a
7/25/25 – TQHA 550 Stakes-G3 – $50,000a
7/25/25 – TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes – $50,000a
7/26/25 – Retama Park Derby – $100,000a
7/26/25 – TQHA Sale Futurity-G1 – $200,000a
8/15/25 – AQHA Racing Championship Challenge-G3 – $50,000a
8/16/25 – Colors of the Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Futurity – $40,000a
8/16/25 – Colors of the Wind Paint and Appaloosa Maturity – $20,000a
8/16/25 – Sires’ Cup Derby – $50,000a
8/16/25 – Sires’ Cup Futurity-G2 – $75,000a
RETAMA PARK UPCOMING STAKES TRIALS SCHEDULE
7/24/25 – AQHA Racing Championship Challenge Trials
7/31/25 – Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity Trials
8/1/25 – Sires’ Cup Futurity Trials
8/2/25 Sires’ Cup Derby Trials
Retama Park has introduced several new events for its 2025 promotions, including Thursday night “Military Appreciation Nights” where Military personnel (active and veterans) receive free admission, and Friday night “Live/Local Bands.” Upcoming fan favorites include the Summer Showdown on July 25, the Diamond Dig presented by Americus Diamonds on August 8, and Wiener Dog Races and Family Fun Night on August 16.
Horsemen and racing enthusiasts are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to secure their reserved seats. General Admission, Reserved Grandstand seats, Clubhouse Box Seats, and Terrace Dining reservations can be made online at tickets.retamapark.com or by visiting retamapark.com under the Events & Tickets section. General admission is $5.00. Selma residents and kids five and under are free.
