Challenge


Retama Park Presents Saturday Challenge Stakes Doubleheader
Retama Park will host a Challenge stakes doubleheader on Saturday.

© Coady Photography
Retama Park Presents Saturday Challenge Stakes Doubleheader

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SELMA, TX—AUGUST 15, 2019—Santander, a homebred son of champion Fdd Dynasty owned and trained by Jorge Haddad, is one of 10 3-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 400-yard, $64,889 Adequan Retama Derby Challenge Stakes at Retama Park.

Santander brings in a four-race win streak that includes a neck victory in the 400-yard, $186,925 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs on July 3. The colt has earned $132,342 from five outs in Texas and Louisiana this season.

Santander drew post 8 and will be ridden by Francisco Calderon.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. Fm Cartel Rock (Antonio Alberto), 7-2
  2. Running A Wave (Eddie Sanchez), 10-1
  3. Paint Me A Sinner (Esgar Ramirez), 5-2
  4. Enid Girl (Victor M. Urieta Jr.), 6-1
  5. Boulevardier (Jesse Levario), 20-1
  6. Gianni Moons U (Manuel Gutierrez), 10-1
  7. Pamplonna (Cruz Mendez), 20-1
  8. Santander (Francisco Calderon), 9-2
  9. Notorious Brown (Ricardo Garza-Cruz), 8-1
  10. Finito Dash (Claudio P. Aguilar), 20-1

Also on Saturday, Pat Allen’s PA Cha Ching is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 350-yard, $71,341 John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge. A homebred son of champion Tempting Dash, the colt has earned $77,452 from three outs -- all in Texas -- and his record includes a second-place finish, a half of a length behind winner Trump My Record, in the 330-yard, $459,700 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) on May 3. PA Cha Ching drew post 5 and will be ridden by Eddie Sanchez for trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III.

All Retama Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.