Luis Vivanco guides Royalist to a three-quarter-length victory in the $181,000 Retama Park Derby on July 25 at Retama Park.

© Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX—JULY 25, 2026—Fastest qualifier Royalist lived up to his billing with a commanding three-quarter-length victory in the $181,000 Retama Park Derby on Saturday night at Retama Park.

The 3-year-old colt covered the 400 yards in :19.933 over a fast track, earning a 101 speed index.

Ridden by Luis Vivanco, Royalist is owned by Hector Reina and trained by Ben Olaveson. The $120,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale graduate was bred by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa and is sired by world champion Corona Cartel out of the stakes-winning One Famous Eagle mare Zigfield Follies. His female family traces to World Champion Dashing Folly ($535,841).

Hector Reina, owner of Retama Park Derby winner Royalist. © Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

Royalist entered the derby off the fastest qualifying time in the July 3 trials after finishing second in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby. Last season, he was a finalist in the Grade 2 Evangeline Downs Futurity. The victory improved his record to 12-5-4-0, while the $72,400 winner's share of the purse increased his earnings to $174,469.

Following the race, trainer Ben Olaveson was asked if the performance was what he expected.

"I did," Olaveson said. "Vivanco is a great rider. The guys in the barn is what puts it all together."

Inflation rallied from off the pace to finish second under Raul Hernandez Jr. for owner-breeder Jerry Windham and trainer Marc Jungers.

The gelding by Apollitical Blood out of the Tres Seis mare Trashy Tres completed the distance in :20.053 with a 97 speed index. He now owns a record of 11-3-3-1 with earnings of $71,867.

He entered the trials after back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the Grade 2 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes and the Sam Houston Derby Challenge Stakes.

Third-fastest qualifier Ring A Ling Ding closed well to finish third under Nestor Duran for owners Cherie and Cade Wallin and trainer Richard Sedillo.

Bred by R Armor & S F/Helen Henderson, the gelding is by Pa Cha Ching and out of the Kiss My Hocks mare Kiss On The Horizon.

He stopped the clock in :20.117, earning a 96 speed index, and improved his record to 13-5-0-5 with earnings of $118,612.

Jlc Show Time finished fourth and was followed by Litenin, The Valiant Flame, Prize Time Lelo, Mw Bullet Train, Cobra Stone 77 and Flying Diamond Mv.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.