Ra Coronado (#7), under jockey Nestor Duran, won the $53,500 Leon Bard Memorial Stakes Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 17, 2025–On Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park, Ra Coronado raced to a neck win as the post-time favorite in the $53,500 Leon Bard Memorial, for 3-year-old accredited Texas-breds.

A strong drive under jockey Nestor Duran put the son of multiple stakes sire Coronado Cartel a neck in front of Ima Chili at the wire. Making his 2025 season debut, the bay gelding completed the 350-yard task in 17.732 seconds, equaling a 94 speed index into a five mph headwind.

Trainer Carlos A. Fierro saddled Ra Cornado to his third win for owner-breeder Rigoberto Aguilar in eight starts.  The $32,100 Bard winners' purse more than doubled the 3-year-olds' earnings to $56,640.

Bred from the Hiclass La Jolla mare Hiclass Madam, Ra Cornado broke his maiden at Retama Park last summer and won an allowance at Evangeline Downs in his previous starts, December 20, 2024. The Leon Bard Memorial was his first stakes appearance.

The winning connections of Rc Coronado accept the Leon Bard Memorial Stakes trophy on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

Runner-up Ima Chili earned $10,700 for his second-place effort under jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr. Trainer Zackery Rios trains the APHA son of multiple stakes sire Chilitos for owner Darrel Hooper. Sarah Huskey bred the gelding from the Executive Menace mare Im Not Hillary. Ima Chili has earned $59,169 with four wins in 11 starts.

One length off the leaders, Dm Chasing Money earned $5,885 for finishing third. Trainer Kei Mushinski tapped jockey Froylan Ramirez to ride the son of multiple stakes sire This Is An Eagle for owner-breeder Donna Mushinski. Bred from Dm Maryanna by The Louisiana Cartel, Dm Chasing Money has earned $34,011 in seven starts.

Hes Jess Apollitical, Defives, Star On The Mountain, and Marfalous completed the field.

About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining and features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.