By Martha Claussen

SELMA, TX—JULY 28, 2017—Retama Park kicked off its biggest stakes weekend of the 2017 Quarter Horse season with a 10-race card that featured five stakes and four trials for the Adequan Derby Challenge (see related story).

Longshot Apollitical Wave Tops the Field in the $35,000 TQHA Classic Stakes (RG3)

Javier Garza’s homebred Apollitical Wave powered to victory in the $35,000 TQHA Classic Stakes, pulling the biggest upset of the night. Trained by Frank Mendez, the 4-year-old son of Apollitical Jess out of the Wave Carver mare Wave Running, closed gamely under rider Francisco Mendez to clinch his first stakes victory.

Almada Racing’s Red Corona Warrior, ridden by Damian Martinez quickly took the lead, but Apollitical Wave was rolling late, winning the 400-yard stakes by a half-length in :19.851 seconds. The 5-year-old son of Coronas Fast Dash had qualified for the 2016 Retama Park Derby, placing seventh. He began his 4-year-old campaign at Louisiana Downs, making his last start with a third-place finish in the Streakin La Jolla Stakes on March 18.

Kraken Black, a gelding by First Down Mr Jess ridden by Eddie Sanchez ran third. Multiple stakes winner and morning-line choice, R C Me Leaving You was fourth followed by Charm The Chief, Gianni Que, Sr Esmeralda, Kid Can Dash and Lee Brooks.

Rewarding his supporters with a $44.80 win payout, Apollitical Wave earned $21,000 for the victory, increasing his career bankroll to $38,481.

He Is The Risingstar Impressive in the $30,000 TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3)

The evening’s stakes action got underway with a field of six in the $30,000 TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3). Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches Lp’s He Is The Risingstar, ridden by Jose Alvarez, prevailed by ¾ of a length over 2014 AQHA world champion Jrc Callas First.

Bred by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LLC, the 5-year-old son of Mr Jess Perry out of the Dash for Cash mare Meddlin Mischief was saddled by trainer L. R. Tooter Jordan. He was making his first start since running second in the SLM Big Daddy at Remington Park.

Alvarez guided the sorrel gelding to victory, covering 550 yards in :27.075 over a fast track. He earned a 109 speed index this evening.

Jrc Callas First, who won the 2014 and 2015 editions of this stakes, broke alertly from the rail under Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr. The 7-year-old son of Winners Award was making his 34th career start for owners Dana and Brian Stroud.

Julio Cesar Ramirez's Bar Struck, a 9-year-old horse by Corona For Me, who ran second in the TQHA 550 last year, ran third under Damian Martinez.

Corona La Jolla was fourth, followed by This Is A Deal and Heza Crazy Pool.

He Is The Risingstar was sent off as the post-time favorite and returned $4.40. He has won eight of his 22 lifetime starts. With the $18,000 winner's share of the TQHA 550 Stakes, his career earnings stand at $146,970.

Dash Dont Cheat Scores in the $30,000 TQHA 250 Stakes

A competitive field of sprinters put on an exciting show in the $30,000 TQHA 250 Stakes with Pete Scarmardo’s homebred Dash Dont Cheat winning his first career stakes.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Down N Dash is trained by Leon Bard and was making his 21st career start. Breaking from the rail under rider Francisco Calderon, Dash Dont Cheat broke in tandem with Teves, and edging ahead at the wire. He covered 250-yards in :13.340, earning a 100-speed index. The homebred is out of Special Cheat by Jess Special.

Teves, a 4-year-old son of The Louisiana Cartel is owned by Larry Sherwood and trained by Eddie Willis. Jimmy Dean Brooks rode the runner-up out of Midnight Swingin by Mr Jess Perry. Lyle Guillory is the breeder.

Evangeline Downs Dash winner Barefoot Beach, by Ivory James closed for third under Jose Alvarez. Judd Kearl conditions the Bobby Cox bred for Samuel Martinez.

Zenergetic from the barn of Brian Stroud completed the superfecta.

Sent off at 9-1, Dash Dont Cheat paid $21.00 for the win; earning his sixth career victory. With the winner’s share of $18,000, the sorrel gelding has banked $118,320.

Jumpn Streak, Million Dollar Kiss, Last Man Standin, Tee Chic, Casey Corona and Tellereyematthebar completed the field.

Bet I Make U Famous Victorious in the $20,000 Benny Pennington Memorial

A field of eight distance specialists went postward in the $20,00 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes, honoring the late Texas horseman. Bet I Make U Famous under jockey Alfonso Lujan, won the tight photo finish.

Owned by Vernon Harman and Robert T. Moudy, III, Bet I Make U Famous was making his sixth start of 2017 for trainer Trey Ellis. He engaged in a spirited duel with multiple-stakes winner Fire On The Fly in what appeared to be a two-horse showdown to the wire.

However, the 7-year-old Jessa Little Rusty, by Mr Jess Perry, came flying down the lane under Gilbert Ortiz to edge Fire on the Fly for second-place. The final time of the 870-yard feature was :45.967 seconds.

Bred by Moudy and James G. Markam, Bet I Make U Famous is a 5-year-old by One Famous Eagle out of the First Down Dash mare One Bet. This was the third-consecutive 870-yard score for the sorrel gelding, who now has a record of 23-6-4-4 and earnings of $88,429.

God I Am Handsome completed the superfecta, followed by 2016 Benny Pennington Memorial champion, The Field Cricket, Also a Feature and post-time favorite, Eyesa Shoefly Dandy.

Bet I Make U Famous sent off as the fourth betting choice, rewarded his backers with a win payout of $15.20.

Wanda Pennington, the widow of Texas horseman Benny Pennington, was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

Heavy Favorite Peyton Sawyer Romps in the $15,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes

Peyton Sawyer, owned by Armando Riojas drew off to a two-length victory in the $15,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes. The 3-year-old Azoom filly by Lajollaslastthought was bred by Wendy R. Hirt and is trained by Santiago Riojas, Jr.

This was the fifth win in a row for Peyton Sawyer, who was ridden this evening by Eddie Sanchez. She crossed the wire of the 350-yard sprint in :17.541 in gate-to-wire fashion.

Eyes Your Date, a 6-year-old Eyesa Special gelding with Damian Martinez in the irons, completed the exacta.

Gimmeahifive and Sonic Dashing Pool completed the field.

Peyton Sawyer ($4.00) has now won six of her 18 starts, picking up a winner’s check of $9,000 for this evening’s victory.