Hollywood, ridden by Yaidel Rodriguez, wins the $54,500 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 14, 2025–Hollywoode delivered a breakout performance on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park. He captured the $54,500 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes with a gate-to-wire victory that left the betting favorite in his wake.

Ridden by Yaidel Rodriguez, the 4-year-old colt by Hawkeye posted a sharp time of 19.961 seconds over 400 yards, registering a 101 speed index. Hollywoode’s winning effort paid $9.80 to win on 7-2 odds.

The victory marked Hollywoode’s fourth career win from nine starts and added $32,700 to his bankroll, pushing his lifetime earnings to $96,659. Trainer Fernando Lopez saddled him for owner Leobersi Perez.

The winning connections of Hollywoode accept the $54,500 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes trophy on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. ©Jack Coady Photography

Hollywoode had only one start in 2024—a winning trial heat in the EVD Derby trials—but had previously demonstrated class as a finalist in both the TQHA Sale Futurity-G1 and Evangeline Downs Futurity-G2.

Bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox, Hollywoode is out of Thriving Ivory, by Ivory James. He was a $33,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate in 2022.

Runner-up Hes A Jet One went off as the race favorite and ran a strong race under jockey Ali Rivera for trainer John Stinebaugh. Still, the seasoned campaigner couldn’t reel in the frontrunner, finishing a neck behind in second.

Hes A Jet One placed second in the Eastex Stakes-G2, third in the Sam Houston Classic Stakes-G2 and fifth in the Leo Stakes-G1 earlier this season. His runner-up finish brings his lifetime earnings to $284,907 from a record of 8 wins, 8 seconds, and four thirds in 29 starts.

The 5-year-old sorrel gelding by Ec Jet One sought his third stakes win in less than a year, following victories in the B.F. Phillips Jr Stakes-G3 and Dr. Glenn Blodgett Stakes at Lone Star Park last September.

Owned and bred by Pete Scarmardo, Hes A Jet One is out of Shez Dead Serious, by Swingin Jess.

Top Cowboy, a 4-year-old sorrel gelding by Flying Cowboy 123, made his first start of the season a good one by finishing third. Trained by Edith Mojica and ridden by Luis Vivanco, he held his own among a competitive group.

Racing for owners Rodrigo Gonzalez and Leviram Racing LLC, Top Cowboy had proven stakes credentials from 2024, including a third-place finish in the Rainbow Derby Invitational Stakes. He was a finalist in the Texas Classic Derby-G1 and Ruidoso Invitational Stakes.

Bred by Tyler and Naia Graham of Texas, Top Cowboy is out of Paradice City, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon.

Deagree, Grace N Dash, Th Mai Tai Tom, Jb Shiner Bok, Ra Coronado, and Liberater completed the order of finish.

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