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Hopey Chick Springs the Upset with First Career Stakes Win in $30,000 Selma Stakes at Retama
Hopey Chick (inside), under jockey Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr., upsets the $30,000 Selma Stakes at Retama Park on Saturday night.

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Hopey Chick Springs the Upset with First Career Stakes Win in $30,000 Selma Stakes at Retama

SELMA, TX—JULY 4, 2020—In a tight three-horse finish at the wire, longshot Hopey Chick emerged with a neck in front to win the $30,000 Selma Stakes at Retama on Saturday night.

Hopey Chick ($28.60) and jockey Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr. finished the 350-yard race in 17.830 for a speed index of 91.

The Selma Stakes was Hopey Chick’s fourth lifetime win and first career stakes victory. She finished fifth in the Rita Danley Distaff at Ruidoso in her most recent race; Saturday’s start was her first at Retama. She is four for 16 lifetime with $86,952 in career earnings.

Hopey Chick is trained by Joel Valeriano, Jr. for Heavy Hitters Racing Stables. The 5-year-old mare was bred in New Mexico by Bob McClure, by Chicks Regard and out of Take Off Babe, by Take Off Jess.

The 9-5 favorites at post time, Saratoga Return and Ss Classyjess, finished second and third, respectively, separated by a nose.

Saratoga Return made her first career start out of her home state of Oklahoma in the Selma Stakes. A familiar face at Remington, the High Rate of Return filly won the Fl Lady Bug Stakes there in 2018 and qualified to the Oklahoma Derby last year.

Juan Pulido had the call on Saratoga Return for trainer Alonso Neri. She is owned by Marili Mendez and was bred by Efrain Mendez, out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Johns Party Girl.

Saratoga Return has won four of her 14 lifetime starts and has earned $109,106 to date.

Ss Classyjess and Juan Ignacio Garcia finished in third, giving the Rock Solid Jess her fourth finish in the money in as many starts in this year. She is trained by Jose Carrizales for owner Edgar Rosales. Bred in Texas by Ronnie Stewart and Double S Farm, Ss Classyjess is out of the Royal Shake Em mare High Class Broad.

Ss Classyjess has $69,063 in career earnings and has seven wins in 23 starts.

Completing the field were Quemados Royal Moon, Apolitical Snow, Olena Sangria, Ricardos Cartel and Frost Dalena. Dm First Talent was scratched.