Undefeated Cowboys Flying leads the field into Saturday's Grade 1 $683,700 TQHA Sale Futurity at Retama Park after posting the fastest qualifying time in the July 2 trials.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 21, 2026–The spotlight turns to Retama Park this weekend as Texas racing takes center stage after the annual TQHA Yearling Sale. Fans can expect an action-packed Saturday evening with a 12-race program starting at 6:30 p.m., highlighted by the Grade 1 $683,700 TQHA Sale Futurity and the $181,000 Retama Park Derby.

The featured event of the evening, the Grade 1 TQHA Sale Futurity, is scheduled as the eleventh race at approximately 10:50 p.m. The field will include the ten fastest Texas-bred juveniles from the July 2 trial heats, all graduates of the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale, as they compete over 350 yards for one of the state's most prestigious prizes.

Undefeated Cowboys Flying will break from the rail after another dominant trial performance, going gate to wire and drawing away by 2¾ lengths to post the fastest qualifying time. The gelding has been flawless throughout his young career, capturing both his trial and the $541,000 Texas Breeders Futurity in impressive fashion, while building earnings of $252,746 for owner Double J Racing, which purchased him for $53,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

The son of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Carters Cartel mare Cartels Lady and was bred in Texas by Dr. Tommy Hays. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal sends him out in search of a fourth consecutive victory, with Nestor Duran retaining the mount.

His stablemate, Whoopie Cowgirl, enters as a major challenger after delivering an equally impressive trial victory. The talented filly cruised gate to wire to win by 2¾ lengths, recording the second-fastest qualifying time. She has won three of five career starts, including the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity, and has earned $166,731 for owner Denis I. Moran, who secured her for $35,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Tac It Like a Man mare Tacarosie and was bred in Texas by Mark E. Rigby, DVM. Ramiro Barajas Villarreal will saddle the filly, with Francisco Calderon picks up the mount.

The talented field of Texas-bred juveniles promises an exciting weekend finale, as the state's brightest young prospects compete for one of the season's richest purses.

Just one race earlier, the tenth race at approximately 10:24 p.m. features the $181,000 Retama Park Derby, in which the ten fastest Texas-bred sophomores from the July 3 trial heats will line up for 400 yards.

Royalist headlines the Derby field after a commanding trial performance in which he went straight to the lead and pulled away to win by 2¼ lengths, recording the fastest qualifying time. The colt enters in sharp form after finishing second in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby and has consistently competed at a high level throughout his career. In eleven starts, he has recorded four victories and four runner-up finishes, earning $102,069 for owner Hector Reina.

A $120,000 graduate of the Los Alamitos Yearling Sale, Royalist is by Corona Cartel and out of the One Famous Eagle mare Zigfield Follies. Bred in California by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa, he is trained by Ben Olaveson and will break from post five with Luis L. Vivanco aboard.

From the outside post, Cobra Stone 77, who secured his Derby berth with a determined gate-to-wire victory in his trial, drew clear late to earn the second-fastest qualifying time. Although he was unable to threaten in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby, the gelding has been a model of consistency, with three wins and two additional third-place finishes in nine career starts.

Owned and bred in Texas by Rancho La Cobra, Cobra Stone 77 is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon and out of the Apollitical Jess mare Redneckedness. John A. Stinebaugh trains the gelding, and Rosendo Pina Garcia returns to the saddle.

With two premier stakes races, outstanding graduates of the TQHA Yearling Sale, and many of the state's top Texas-bred runners competing under the lights, Retama Park is set to deliver one of the summer's most anticipated racing programs as another exciting weekend of Texas Quarter Horse racing draws to a close.

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

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