Hes A Jet One, with jockey Ali Rivera aboard, fends off Th Mai Tai Tom (#5) and Hollywoode (#3) to capture the $65,400 TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2) on Friday night at Retama Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX—JULY 25, 2025—With a determined rally through a stiff 12-mph headwind, Hes A Jet One surged home to take the $65,400 restricted Grade 2 TQHA Classic Stakes for the second year in a row at Retama Park on Friday night.

The 5-year-old sorrel gelding earned the winner’s share of the $65,400 purse while covering the 400-yard distance in 20.254 seconds over a fast track, earning a speed index of 93.

Bred and owned by Pete A. Scarmardo of Texas, Hes A Jet One is a son of champion Ec Jet One and out of the Swingin Jess mare Shez Dead Serious. The homebred, trained by John Stinebaugh and ridden to victory by Ali Rivera, dueled gamely and edged clear late to win by a neck.

The winning connections of Hes A Jet One accept the TQHA Classic Stakes trophy on Friday at Retama Park.
© Jack Coady Photography

His connections valued the victory at $39,240, boosting the multiple stakes winner’s earnings to $326,091. He now boasts a record of 9-8-4 from 31 starts, including four stakes wins, two of which were in the TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2. He also won last year’s B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes-G3 and Dr Glenn Blodgett Stakes.

This victory marks his first stakes win of the 2025 season. Previously, he secured a second place in the Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes and a third place in the King William Stakes (G3). Additionally, he finished fifth in both the Leo Stakes (G1) and the King William Stakes (G3) this year.

Hes A Jet One was a $62,000 repurchase in the 2021 TQHA Yearling Sale for owner Scarmardo.

Scarmardo was all smiles in the winner’s circle following the gelding’s sharp effort. “I feel pretty good. It’s always nice to win a stakes race like this. I am proud of the horse; he ran really well tonight,” he said.

For trainer John Stinebaugh, who has been splitting time between Texas and New Mexico in recent weeks, the win was also a tribute to teamwork. “I have to give credit where credit is due, to my whole team here. Ali and I have been busy in Ruidoso due to the flooding. My son (Zack) stepped up and has really done a great job,” said Stinebaugh.

Second-place finisher Th Mai Tai Tom, a 5-year-old sorrel gelding by Fulton Special out of Th de Streakinjessia by Jess Louisiana Blue, rallied late to earn $13,080. Bred by Raymond T. Hamilton, he races for Edwin Ibarra and is trained by Arturo Garcia. Javier Hernandez had the riding assignment as Th Mai Tai Tom posted a final time to boost his bankroll to $66,913.

Hollywoode, a gray 4-year-old colt by Hawkeye, finished third for owner Leobersi Perez and trainer Fernando Lopez. Out of Thriving Ivory by Ivory James, and bred by Bobby D. Cox, Hollywoode was purchased for $33,000 at the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale.

Yaidel Rodriguez guided the colt to a third-place finish and a $7,194 payday. Coming off back-to-back wins, the colt has earned $103,853.

Hes A Jet One paid $4.80 to win, $3.00 to place, and $2.10 to show. Th Mai Tai Tom returned $27.60 to place and $6.80 to show. Hollywoode paid $2.10 to show.

The also-rans in the field of six were Grace N Dash in fourth, Top Cowboy in fifth, and Misterz Cashmaster in sixth.

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