Silk And Stilettos (#6) and Jess Eleven Or Seven(#7) hit the wire together in the $54,500 Miss Retama Stakes at Sam Houston Friday night.

© Coady Photography

HOUSTON, TX—JULY 30, 2021—In a rare dead heat for the win, Silk and Stilettos and Jess Eleven Or Seven hit the wire together in the $54,500 Miss Retama Stakes at Sam Houston. The Miss Retama Stakes is a 350-yard race for Texas-bred fillies and mares; both Silk and Stilettos and Jess Eleven Or Seven earned their first career stakes victories on Friday night.

The final time was 17.729 and gave a 95 speed index to the two winners.

Silk and Stilettos ($5.80) was ridden by Raul Ramirez, Jr. for trainer Trey Wood. Wood’s assistant, Paul Leal, was on-hand for Friday’s stake.

The winning connections of Silk And Stilettos and Jess Eleven Or Seven accept the Miss Retama Stakes trophy Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park. © Coady Photography

“I was really impressed with the way she finished,” said Leal of the filly’s win. “She didn't break all that well; but she ran down the track. We're happy; we don't mind sharing the win!"

Silk and Stilettos was bred by her owner, Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP, by Favorite Cartel and out of Tallulah Moon, by Corona Cartel. She is three for 13 lifetime with earnings of $81,633. As a 3-year-old, Silk and Stilettos qualified to the Texas Classic Derby (G1) and was second in the Adequan Ruidoso Downs Derby Challenge.

Jess Eleven Or Seven ($30.20) and Ricardo Garza-Cruz teamed up for the win for trainer Rolando Almanza. "She's a real honest filly. We finally got it figured out and look forward to running her in some filly and mare stakes for Texas-breds in Dallas."

The Jess Louisiana Blue mare is a homebred for Esmeralda and Chad Peck, out of the Fredricksburg mare Eleven to Seven. She has won three of her 17 starts and has earned $80,619.

Jess Eleven Or Seven was second in her previous start, the Sam Houston 250 Stakes, as well as the Yellow Rose of Texas Stakes at Lone Star last year.

Last year’s winner of the Miss Retama and post-time favorite Ss Classyjess finished a neck behind the winning duo in third place. Juan Garcia had the call for trainer Jose Carrizales and owner Edgar Rosales.

The multiple stakes winner is 15 for 36 lifetime and has earned $346,441 to date. She won the Miss Sam Houston Stakes in June and the Sam’s Town Stakes in December at Evangeline. In 2020, she won the Miss Retama, kicking off a four-race win streak of all stakes, including the Nevill Stakes and Yellow Rose of Texas Stakes.

Ss Classyjess was bred by Ronnie Stewart and Double S Farm, by Rock Solid Jess and out of High Class Broad, by Royal Shake Em.

Completing the field were Greysland, Leading Senorita, My Rockin Memories, Mia Favorita and First Lady Tlc. Fancy Pants Heidi and Pronto Alexa were scratched.