Pops First Lady, under jockey Nestor Duran, winning the $46,000 Selma Stakes Friday night at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography

SELMA, TX–JUNE 28, 2024–Making her first start ever at Retama Park, 6-year-old Pops First Lady posted a 1-1/4 length win in the $46,000 Selma Stakes for 3-year-old and up fillies and mares on Friday night.

Under jockey Nestor Duran, the multiple graded stakes winner completed the 350 yards in 18.186 seconds into a 12 mph headwind to get her eighth win in 26 career starts. The $27,600 Selma winner's purse boosted Pops First Lady's earning total to $383,515.

Juan Diaz, Jr. trains the daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess for owner Ruse Ranch LLC. Gary Kurz and Double M Racing bred the filly in Texas from the Shazoom mare Shazooms Pop Pop. She is a past winner of the Juno Request Stakes(G1), and Easy Date Stakes(G3) at Remington Park.

Runner-up Darling Secret earned $9,200 for her second-place effort. Rodolfo Fierro had the riding call for trainer Raul Galvan. Eleazar Martinez, Sr. is the owner-breeder of the Hez Our Secret 3-year-old from the Corona Cartel mare Darling Corona. She has earned $40,466.

The winning connections of Pops First Lady accept the Selma Stakes trophy at Retama Park. © Coady Photography

Sweet Emmylou, a 4-year-old daughter of four-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty, finished a neck back to pick up $5,060 for third. Trainer John Stinebaugh conditions last year's Rainbow Oaks(G1) runner-up for owners Alfredo Casso and Christine Asmussen. Jim Streelman or Bill Dale bred the $158,837 earner in Missouri from the One Famous Eagle mare Imaqtpie.

One Famous Lil Lady, Bp Its Tempting, Elegant Blues Girl, Dakota Gurl, Five Bar Willie, Bluemoon Arising, and Over The Moonin completed the field.