Retama Park's all-Quarter Horse card on Friday featured seven stakes races, two repeat champions, and standout rides from Rivera and Sanchez.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera/StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 26, 2025–Retama Park came alive Friday night as the Summer Showdown delivered ten races, including seven stakes events, making for an action-packed evening of live Quarter Horse racing. Following Thursday’s program, including the Firecracker Sprint Stakes for Arabians, Friday’s all-Quarter Horse card kicked off the biggest weekend of the season at the Texas track, drawing a festive and engaged crowd.

Many TQHA Yearling Sale attendees were in the grandstand after the conclusion of Friday’s opening sale session. Thousands of fans were on hand for the evening’s festivities, enjoying a lively atmosphere enhanced by tastings of wine and Torchtree Bourbon, hosted by the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the TQHA, which added a refined social element to the night’s racing.

Wagering totals reflected strong engagement from both on-site and remote fans. Retama Park reported an on-track handle of $88,712.30 and an off-track handle of $474,195.46, bringing the total Friday night handle to $562,907.76. That marks a roughly 3.5% increase in total handle compared to last year, highlighting the growing reach of Retama Park’s marquee event.

Two horses successfully defended their titles in restricted graded stakes. Onthrocks captured his third consecutive victory in the TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3). Hes Ec Jet One returned to win the TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2) for the second year.

Jockeys Ali Rivera and Eddie Sanchez each recorded two wins on the evening. Rivera wrapped up the night with back-to-back restricted Grade 2 stakes victories, first aboard Gjr Rooster in the Benny Pennington Memorial (RG2), and then on Hes Ec Jet One in the TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2). Sanchez scored an early win aboard Eye On The Lights in a maiden event in Race 3 and later guided Onthrocks to victory in the TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3).

When asked about his double stakes wins, Rivera said, “It was a mix of emotions. Hollering, smiles… I am very grateful and blessed. It was a long night, but thank the good Lord we ended it on a good note.”

SUMMER SHOWDOWN STAKES RACING RECAP
The night was highlighted by three restricted graded events: the $65,400 TQHA Classic Stakes (RG2), the Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes (RG2), and the $56,000 TQHA 550 Stakes (RG3), which carried the highest purse since the race’s inception in 2012. The four remaining stakes on the card included the $58,500 TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes, the $34,950 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes, the $58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes and the $57,125 Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women.

CLICK THE RACE TO READ RELATED STORY
$58,500 TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes
$34,950 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes
$58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes
$57,125 Miss Retama Stakes presented by PENN Women
$56,000 TQHA 550 Stakes-RG3
$56,000 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes-RG2
$65,400 TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2

THURSDAY NIGHT FIRECRACKER SPRINT STAKES WON BY FARFALES A FAR
Farfales A Far unleashed an impressive stretch run to capture the $33,625 Firecracker Sprint Stakes (Listed) for 3-year-old Arabians. Breaking alertly from post five under jockey Luis Vivanco, Farfales A Far stopped the clock in 1:19.87 for six furlongs, a 21 1/4 length victory at the wire. By Harran ASF, Farfales A Far was bred in Texas by Garrett Ford out of Farfale, by Snoop. He is owned by Jessica Williams and trained by Antwain Franklin. The victory earned Farfales A Far $19,875, increasing his lifetime earnings to $30,865. He now has two wins from four starts, which marks his first stakes victory.

TQHA YEARLING SALE – OPENING SESSION RECAP
Friday’s opening session of the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale saw 130 yearlings sold from a catalog of 205, totaling just over $2.25 million in gross sales. The average landed at $17,322, with a median of $9,250 — while still healthy, the numbers declined from last year's record-setting pace.

Topping the session was Hip 195, a colt named Kosta Browne, who brought a final bid of $128,000. The FDD Dynasty colt is out of Ms Highmaitenance, a daughter of Favorite Cartel, and was consigned by Granada Farms, Agent for Tyler and Nala Graham. He was purchased by Tungsten Racing Partnership.

The second-highest seller was Hip 86, Not A Little Deal, a Dealagame colt out of Little Affection by Jodys Money Pop. Also consigned by Granada Farms for Tyler and Nala Graham, he was hammered down at $100,000 to Rey Munoz.

Closing out the top three was Hip 160, Eyema Special Eagle, a colt by One Famous Eagle out of Eyema Special Candy, a daughter of Oak Tree Special. Consigned by Robicheaux Ranch Inc., Agent for Simmons Racing, the colt went to JLT Horse Racing for $97,000.

Rey Munoz ended the day as the session’s leading buyer with two purchases totaling $172,000. Tungsten Racing and JLT Horse Racing each made one purchase for $128,000 and $97,000, respectively.

Granada Farms, Agent for Tyler and Nala Graham, led all consignors by gross, selling two standout colts for a combined total of $228,000. Bielau Oaks, Agent, moved eleven head for $131,800, while Bobby D. Cox sold three yearlings for $108,000.

CLICK HERE for complete results of the TQHA Yearling Sale.

ABOUT RETAMA PARK
Retama Park is a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racetrack located in Selma, Texas, just 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio. Live Quarter Horse races take place each summer (June 26 to August 16 – 2025), while simulcast wagering and races from around the world are shown daily. Managed by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), Retama Park opened in 1995 and is hosting its 30^th season of horse racing in 2025. For more information and racing schedules, please visit www.RetamaPark.com follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube.