Yippee Ki Yey and jockey Alejandro Medina rally from just off the pace to win the $45,700 Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at Retama Park on June 27.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JUNE 27, 2026–Yippee Ki Yey rallied from just off the pace to defeat Master Reigns by a half-length in the $45,700 Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes Saturday night at Retama Park. The 870-yard event for horses three years old and upward was one of several stakes races on the evening program.

Ridden by Alejandro Medina, Yippee Ki Yey pressed the pace from just off the leaders before launching a sustained drive through the stretch to stop the clock in :47.912 over a fast track. The brown gelding defeated Master Reigns by 1/2-length, with Eye Will Decide another 1 1/2-length back in third.

Trained by Richard Sedillo for owner-breeder Stanley Forbes, the five-year-old gelding is by champion sire Tres Seis and out of the stakes-placed Fantastic Corona Jr mare Jess Shantastic. The victory was worth $27,420 and boosted his career earnings to $143,293 while improving his record to 27 starts, 4 wins, 4 seconds and 5 thirds.

Winning conncetions of Yippee Ki Yey.
© Jack Coady Photography

Yippee Ki Yey entered the race off a third-place finish in the Governors' Cup Marathon Stakes (G3). The victory marked his first stakes win since capturing the Ruidoso Juvenile Stakes in 2023.

"The preparation was good," Sedillo said following the race. "First off, shout out to Stanley Forbes for giving us an opportunity with this horse. We've kind of known with the last three races that he just needed a clean trip, and he got one today, so that's good."

Making his first start aboard the gelding, Medina was pleased with the veteran runner's effort.

"He behaved well in the gate, broke good, took off and finished well," Medina said.

Asked if he thought he would catch longtime leader Master Reigns, Medina replied, "That's his style. This horse always comes from behind with a late run and closes at the wire."

Master Reigns, under Raul Hernandez Jr., set the pace along the rail and battled gamely throughout before yielding late. The seven-year-old gelding races for owner-breeder Bronc Richard Hawkins and trainer Marc Jungers.

By Dash Master Jess out of the He Will Reign mare Dancee Reigns, he now owns a record of 6-7-5 with earnings of $168,993 from 38 starts. He was coming off a runner-up finish in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes (G3), a race he won in 2025.

Eye Will Decide finished strongly for third after being steadied during the running and angling inside for room in the stretch. Ridden by Noe Villatoro for owner-breeder Byron Gardner and trainer Adan Guzman, the eight-year-old gelding is by Majestic Cartel and out of the Valiant Hero mare Valiant Lil Lady.

The multiple stakes winner improved his record to 8-9-5 with earnings of $239,169 from 34 starts. As the heavy favorite, Eye Will Decide entered the race off an impressive five-length victory in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes (G3) and previously won both the San Marcos Stakes and Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes in 2023.

Louisiana Mystery finished fourth after making a middle move while racing two-wide before flattening out late. Eye Am Tuff was fifth, followed by Hondo Hocks and Fire Bolt B. Flyin Rusty was scratched.

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