Royalist and jockey Luis Vivanco post the fastest qualifying time to the $181,000 Retama Park Derby on July 3 at Retama Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 3, 2026–Three trials were held Friday night at Retama Park to determine the field for the $181,000 Retama Park Derby, with Royalist posting the fastest qualifying time and leading the ten finalists into the July 25 final.

Royalist dominated the opening trial under Luis Vivanco, drawing away to a 2½-length victory while stopping the clock in :20.261 for a 92 speed index, the fastest time of the evening.

Trained by Ben Olaveson for owner Hector Reina, the colt was bred by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa and sold for $120,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. The son of leading sire and broodmare sire Corona Cartel is out of the stakes-winning One Famous Eagle mare Zigfield Follies, winner of $37,516. His female family traces to AQHA World Champion Dashing Folly, who earned $535,841.

Royalist improved his record to 11 starts with four wins, four seconds, and earnings of $102,069. He entered the trials off a runner-up effort in the Sam Houston Derby (G3) and was a finalist in last year's Evangeline Downs Futurity (G2).

Cobra Stone 77 captured the final trial under Rosendo Pina Garcia to secure the second-fastest qualifying mark of :20.471, earning an 87 speed index. The gelding dueled throughout before prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

A homebred for Rancho La Cobra, Cobra Stone 77 is trained by John Stinebaugh. The gelding was a $50,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale and is sired by champion sire PYC Paint Your Wagon out of the stakes-winning Apollitical Jess mare Redneckedness, winner of $50,558. Redneckedness is a half sister to stakes winners Five Bar Bodee ($116,506) and Big Eagle Gone ($113,486).

Now the owner of a 9-2-1-2 record and $34,088 in earnings, Cobra Stone 77 enters the derby final seeking his first stakes victory after previously qualifying to the Sam Houston Derby (G3).

Ring A Ling Ding won the second trial under Nestor Duran and recorded the third-fastest qualifying time of :20.500 with an 86 speed index. The gelding dueled for the lead before pulling clear to win by one length.

Owned by Cherie and Cade Wallin and trained by Richard Sedillo, Ring A Ling Ding was bred by R. Armor and S.F. & Helen Henderson. The gelding is sired by Pa Cha Ching and out of the Kiss My Hocks mare Kiss On The Horizon.

With the victory, Ring A Ling Ding improved his record to 12 starts with five wins and earnings of $100,512. He entered the trials off a fourth-place finish in the Sam Houston Derby (G3) after previously running third in the West Texas Derby (G3).

The $181,000 Retama Park Derby final is scheduled for July 25.

VIEW FULL LIST OF QUALIFIERS HERE.

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