SELMA, TEXAS–Opening night of Retama Park's 2026 Live Quarter Horse meet got underway on Thursday with a trio of stakes races showcasing Quarter Horses and Paints. Sign Of A Jet upset the field in the $44,200 Silver Bullet Stakes, Jvm Hot Victoria led a sweep of the TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile Stakes by APHA leading third-year sire Chilitos, and Karma Cha Ching continued her outstanding sophomore campaign with her second stakes victory in less than two weeks in the $46,000 La Villita Stakes.

SILVER BULLET STAKES Sign Of A Jet turned in the biggest performance of his career Thursday night, leading throughout to capture the $44,200 Silver Bullet Stakes for accredited Texas-bred 3-year-olds.

Under jockey Nestor Duran, the 8-1 outsider completed the 330 yards in :17.145 seconds while posting a 92 speed index into a 12 mph headwind, drawing away to a three-quarter-length victory worth $26,520. Breaking from post four, Sign Of A Jet quickly assumed command at the first call and was never seriously threatened, finishing with a strong driving effort to return $17.20 to win.

The victory came after the gelding finished third in the Leon Bard Memorial earlier this season, providing a measure of redemption with his first stakes triumph. Bred and owned by Rene Rios, son of The Fiscal Cliff, is out of Jaels Sign, by Second Painted Sign. Trained by Ricardo Aguirre, the victory improved his career record to 3-2-1 from eight starts with earnings of $54,560.

Run On Monday closed willingly after being bumped during the running but had to settle for second under Noe Villatoro. Trained by Adan Guzman for Dream Girl Partners, the gray gelding was bred in Texas by Dream Girl Partners.

He is by Cyber Monday and out of Shinning Runaway, by Sir Runaway Dash. The runner-up now owns a record of two wins and five seconds from 11 starts with earnings of $77,522. He entered the Silver Bullet following a troubled seventh-place effort in the Sam Houston Derby (G3) and was a finalist last year in both the Ochoa Stakes and the Sam Houston Futurity (G2).

Mako Shark Watters finished another 3/4-length back in third with Oliver Martinez aboard. Arnold Lewis trains the gray gelding for owner/breeder Sunset Well Service, Inc. The son of Muddy Watters is out Ms Flashy Eyes, by Mr Jess Perry.

An $18,000 repurchase at the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale, Mako Shark Watters earned his first black-type score with the third-place finish, and previously, he placed fourth in the GCFA Firecracker Futurity from his freshman campaign. He now sports a 2-2-2 record from 10 starts with earnings of $44,745.

Feenom finished fourth, followed by Di Tres Bloods, Atlas Rise, and Armor Of God Yg.


TPHBA PAINT HORSE JUVENILE STAKES Leading third-year APHA sire Chilitos swept the trifecta in the $13,350 TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile Stakes, led by Jvm Hot Victoria's first career stakes victory over El Rey De Chili-tos and Flying G Litos.

Breaking from post six under Rosendo Pina Garcia, Jvm Hot Victoria quickly put herself into contention before drawing away to a three-quarter-length victory in the 330-yard event. The sor-rel filly posted an 82 speed index while stopping the clock in :17.459 seconds into a 12 mph headwind, earning $7,878 for owner Juan Luis Leon.

“She stood well in the gate and came out pretty good, better than last time. She got down to business, and she got the win,” said Pina Garcia

Trained by Wendy Garcia, Jvm Hot Victoria was bred in Texas by Juan Leon out of the Gol To Go mare Victoria Camila.

She was a $7,500 repurchase at the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale and now has three wins from four starts with more than $25,000 in earnings. Her only finish outside the winner's circle came when she was fifth in the Colors of Houston Futurity-G2 on June 6

"She didn't break well in her last start, so we are really happy she got the win today, which prepares her for the next paint trial race coming up," said her trainer, Wendy Garcia.

El Rey De Chilitos rallied from the back of the field to get up for second under jockey James Flores. The son of Chilitos races for owner Jose Angel Gomez-Luna and trainer Martin Rodriguez. Bred in Texas by Alejandro Moya, he is out of the Tres Seis mare Sheza Fearless Fire.

A $14,000 repurchase at the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale, the colt picked up his first stakes placing after previously finishing fourth in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2. He remains a maiden from four starts with nearly $10,000 in earnings.

Flying G Litos closed well to finish another half-length back in third for the Flying G Litos Partnership. Oliver Martinez rode the Arnold Lewis trainee.

Bred in Texas by April Galindo, the gelding is out of Rc Smokin Hot by The Louisiana Cartel. He was purchased for $11,000 at the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale. Flying G Litos has one second and one third from four starts and added his second stakes placing after finishing runner-up in the Colors of Houston Juvenile earlier this month.

Cholula H, El Chato, A Political Risk, This Cowboys An Eagle, and Cowboys Success completed the order of finish.


LA VILLITA STAKES Karma Cha Ching continued her breakout 3-year-old season, picking up her second stakes victory in less than two weeks with a convincing 1¼-length score in the $46,000 La Villita Stakes.

Breaking from post nine under Nestor Duran, Karma Cha Ching wasted little time putting herself in contention before taking over and pulling away through the final yards. The filly covered the 330 yards in :17.087 seconds for a 94 speed index and returned $4.60 as the even favorite.

Off to a great start for the season, the win marked Duran's fourth victory on the opening-night card and his second stakes triumph of the evening.

The daughter of multiple stakes sire Pa Cha Ching is out of Marthas First Corona by Tinys First Corona and was bred in Texas by owner Sarah Huskey. Esteban Rubio conditions the sorrel filly.

The La Villita was the third straight victory for Karma Cha Ching, who came into the race off her win in the $176,250 Sam Houston Oaks on June 13. She improved her career record to four wins from 11 starts with one second and earnings of $127,302. She was also a finalist in last year's TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2) at Retama Park.

Chasing Glory rallied from mid-pack under Luis Vivanco to finish second, 1¼ lengths behind the winner, while proving best of the rest. The daughter of Apollitical Jess is out of Sera Jess Fine V, by Jess Lips, and was bred in Texas by Don Griffin Jr. Griffin also owns the filly, who is trained by Ben Olaveson. Chasing Glory earned $9,200 for the runner-up finish, boosting her earnings to $37,400.

After a lengthy stewards' inquiry, Instagram Diva was elevated to third following the disqualification of Chile Piquin for interference. The bay filly, by Senator Teller out of Eyesa Sweet Eye, by Mr Eye Opener, races for breeder-owner Alvaro Ibarra Jr., with Riley Aguilar serving as trainer and Angel Ramirez aboard.

Chile Piquin crossed the wire third but was disqualified and placed seventh after stewards ruled the filly lugged in during the stretch and interfered with rivals.

Completing the official order of finish were Flies Like an Eagle, Chieftainess, Di the Peytons Kiss, Chile Piquin, Coronas Famouscartel, This Eagles Quirky, and Maid in Da Shade.

ABOUT RETAMA PARK Retama Park is a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racetrack located in Selma, Texas, just 15 minutes from downtown San Antonio. Live Quarter Horse races take place each summer, 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 31st season of horse racing in 2026. For more information and racing schedules, please visit www.RetamaPark.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.


Photos by Jack Coady Photography

1. Sign Of A Jet, with jockey Nestor Duran aboard, leads throughout to upset the $44,200 Silver Bullet Stakes Thursday night at Retama Park.

2. Jvm Hot Victoria led a 1-2-3 sweep for leading third-year APHA sire Chilitos in Thursday night's $13,350 TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile Stakes at Retama Park.

3. Karma Cha Ching, under Nestor Duran, races to her second consecutive stakes victory in the $40,000 La Villita Stakes on opening night at Retama Park.