Leading the Grade 3 King William Stakes field is the 2-1 morning-line favorite Church Spire.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JUNE 23, 2026–Retama Park will present one of its strongest programs of the meet on Saturday night, featuring a ten-race card highlighted by three stakes races in the final three events. Live racing begins at 6:45 p.m., with the spotlight on the Grade 3 $60,000 King William Stakes, the Grade 3 $40,000 San Marcos Stakes, and the $40,000 Gary Baber Memorial Stakes. The trio of feature races will showcase many of the top older Quarter Horses currently competing in the Southwest.

The featured tenth race of the evening is the Grade 3 $60,000 King William Stakes. A field of nine horses, three years old and older, will sprint 350 yards at approximately 10:51 p.m.

Leading the field is the 2-1 morning-line favorite Church Spire. The four-year-old gelding enters in sharp form after facing some of the toughest competition in the country this season. He opened his 2026 campaign with a third-place finish against allowance company, then returned to defeat the same group. That effort launched him into stakes competition, where he captured the Grade 1 $100,000 Leo Stakes and most recently finished third in the Grade 1 $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship Stakes.

Church Spire has compiled three wins, two seconds, and three thirds in sixteen career starts, earning $170,093. Owned by Rancho Garambuyo, the gelding was purchased for $26,000 at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. Bred in Oklahoma by Kelly Yother Equine, LLC, he is a son of Kvn Corona out of the Tac It Like a Man mare Symbol of Faith. Trainer Marco Adair Chavez-Gutierrez will saddle the gelding from post six, with Jonathan Dominguez aboard.

The eighth race features the Grade 3 $40,000 San Marcos Stakes, with eight runners taking on the demanding 870-yard distance at approximately 9:57 p.m.

Eye Will Decide enters as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes, where he drew away to win by five lengths. The eight-year-old gelding has won both of his starts this season and appears to be in top form entering Saturday's test.

The veteran runner has eight career victories, nine second-place finishes, and four thirds, earning $234,142. A Texas homebred for Bryon Gardner, Eye Will Decide is by Majestic Cartel and out of the Valiant Hero mare Valiant Lil Lady. Trained by Adan Guzman, he will break from post eight under Noe Villatoro.

The ninth race is the $40,000 Gary Baber Memorial Stakes, with ten horses set to cover 550 yards at approximately 10:24 p.m.

Lil Perry Wagon heads the field as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The six-year-old gelding has not raced since a strong May 22 victory over optional claiming company, where he overcame trouble and pulled away late for a one-length win. That effort gave him added momentum heading into one of Retama Park's premier distance stakes events.

Lil Perry Wagon has won seven races in his career, added three runner-up finishes, and earned $136,774. He also finished second in this race a year ago and will look to improve on that performance Saturday night. Owned by Ubaldo Fuentes, Jr., the gelding was purchased for $15,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Bred in Oklahoma by Randy and Stacy Hill, he is by Lil Kool Wagon and out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Kt Perry. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez will send him from post six, with H. Javier Hernandez in the saddle.

With three stakes races closing out the program, Saturday night at Retama Park promises a competitive showcase of proven older runners. From Church Spire in the King William Stakes to Eye Will Decide in the San Marcos Stakes and the proven consistency of Lil Perry Wagon in the Gary Baber Memorial, the final three races are set to provide an exciting finish to one of the biggest nights of the meet.

The races at Retama Park can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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