Shakers No Secret and jockey Raul Hernandez Jr. lead throughout to win the $69,000 Grade 3 King William Stakes at Retama Park on June 27.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JUNE 27, 2026–Shakers No Secret added another graded stakes trophy to his impressive record Saturday night, leading throughout to capture the $69,000 Grade 3 King William Stakes at Retama Park.

Ridden by Raul Hernandez Jr., the gray gelding broke sharply from the rail and dueled early before drawing clear to score by three-quarters of a length in the 350-yard stakes for horses three years old and older. He completed the distance in :18.009 while earning a 91 speed index.

Owned by Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez and Manny Dutchover and trained by Marc Jungers, Shakers No Secret was bred in Texas by Garlyn Shelton. The $14,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate is sired by Five Bar Cartel and out of the No Secrets Here mare Shaker Secret, a half-sister to stakes winner Stoli Angel ($125,342). His second dam is Grade 1 winner Eyesa Shaker ($256,473).

Winning conncetions of Shakers No Secret.
© Jack Coady Photography

The victory was worth $41,400 and boosted the six-year-old's earnings to $823,525 from a record of 40 starts, 10 wins, 10 seconds and 6 thirds. Saturday's score came during his 15th consecutive stakes appearance. Among his career highlights are victories in the AQHA Challenge Championship Stakes (G1) and Championship at Sunland Park (G1).

"It felt great," Hernandez said when asked about taking command early. "He came out, his feet kind of slipped a little, but he gathered up and got going. He was a little on his own so he started looking for the competition. I had his head turned the whole way, but luckily we had plenty of horse."

One of the ownership partners credited the preparation of Jungers and his team for the performance.

"We were expecting a good race," he said. "Talking to the trainer all the last few weeks, he's had him on point, and we're blessed with the team we have. These guys are great."

Rockin The Train closed willingly to finish second under Jose Herbert for owner-breeder Debra Gotovac and trainer Bradley Bolen. The four-year-old gelding is by BP Wagon Train and out of the Rock Solid Jess mare Rock Solid Jet. He improved his record to 20-5-4-1 and increased his earnings to $126,135.

Rockin The Train entered the race off a runner-up effort in the Evangeline Downs Derby and previously won the 2024 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge Stakes. Still searching for another stakes victory, he rallied late but was unable to threaten the winner.

Klass Action finished third under Luis Vivanco for breeder-owner Garlyn Shelton and trainer Marc Jungers. The four-year-old gelding is by all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess and out of stakes winner Stoli Angel. He now owns a record of 14-3-0-4 with earnings of $40,665 and entered the race off back-to-back victories. Despite the strong recent form, he remains in search of his first stakes win.

A steward's inquiry resulted in Hes Bold As Corona being disqualified from fourth and placed eighth for interference in mid-stretch after the gelding bore out and repeatedly bumped rivals. The official order of finish behind the top three was Defours, Jess Pretty N Black, Invasive and Fast Flyer 123, followed by the disqualified Hes Bold As Corona. Church Spire was scratched.

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