SELMA, TEXAS– Friday night's card at Retama Park featured three trial heats for the $181,000 Retama Park Derby presented by 440 Equine, with 26 three-year-olds vying for ten berths in the July 25 final. The evening concluded with the $50,000 Grade 3 Selma Stakes, while fans also enjoyed live entertainment from the Broken Duck Feet Band and a post-race fireworks display.

The night's leading horsemen turned in standout performances. Luis Vivanco, Gilberto Linares, and Rosendo Pina Garcia shared riding honors with two wins apiece on the eight-race card. Vivanco was the only rider whose two victories came in stakes competition. He guided Royalist to the fastest qualifying time in the Retama Park Derby trials before returning to capture the Grade 3 Selma Stakes aboard Bludz Valiant Policy.

Matching Vivanco's two-win night, Ben Olaveson was the only trainer with a pair of victories, teaming up with the veteran rider for both wins.

The strong performances on the racetrack were paralleled by another successful weekend at the betting windows. Retama Park continued to show positive year-over-year growth during its Independence Day racing weekend.

Thursday delivered the strongest gains when compared to the same race day in 2025. The on-track attendance handle more than doubled, increasing from $40,196 to $81,974, a 104 percent increase. Off-track wagering also surged from $334,202 to $526,443, an increase of more than 57 percent.

Friday's card continued to produce strong on-track support, with the on-track attendance handle climbing from $71,238 in 2025 to $108,243 in 2026, a 52 percent increase over the comparable race day last year.

“The weekend did not disappoint,” said Retama Park Racing Secretary, Mike Acton. “We had fantastic crowds, fast horses, and awesome fireworks displays! This Retama Park meet is one of the most exciting race meets in the country with all of the excellent promotions, competitive racing, and lots of graded stakes. It provides a great opportunity for Texas breeders to solidify their bloodstock.”

While there will be no live racing on July 4, Retama Park will host its free Stars & Stripes Spectacular presented by University Health Retama Hospital. The family-friendly celebration commemorates America's 250th Independence Day with a 21-minute patriotic fireworks show, live music by Dakota Avenue, family activities, horse rides, a CarfestSA car show, a Most Patriotic Hat Contest, local vendors, and more.

Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with the fireworks show scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy free on-site parking along with both indoor and outdoor seating.

ROYALIST TOPS QUALIFIERS FOR $181,000 RETAMA PARK DERBY Royalist dominated the opening trial under Luis Vivanco with a wire-to-wire victory by 2 1/2-lengths. He stopped the clock in :20.261 for a 92 speed index, the fastest time of the evening.

Trained by Ben Olaveson for owner Hector Reina, Royalist improved his record to four wins and four seconds with earnings of $102,069 from 11 starts. He entered the trials off a runner-up effort in the Sam Houston Derby (G3) and was a finalist in last year's Evangeline Downs Futurity (G2).

The $120,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale graduate was bred by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa out of Zigfield Follies by One Famous Eagle.

Cobra Stone 77 captured the final trial under Rosendo Garcia to secure the second-fastest qualifying mark of :20.471. A homebred for Rancho La Cobra, Cobra Stone 77 is trained by John Stinebaugh. The gelding was a $50,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale and is sired by champion sire PYC Paint Your Wagon out of the stakes-winning Apollitical Jess mare Redneckedness.

Now the owner of a 2-1-2 race record and $34,088 in earnings from nine starts, Cobra Stone 77 enters the derby final seeking his first stakes victory after previously qualifying to the Sam Houston Derby (G3).

Ring A Ling Ding won the second trial under Nestor Duran and recorded the third-fastest qualifying time of :20.500. Owned by Cherie and Cade Wallin and trained by Richard Sedillo, Ring A Ling Ding was bred by R. Armor and S.F. & Helen Henderson. The gelding is sired by Pa Cha Ching and out of the Kiss My Hocks mare Kiss On The Horizon.

With the victory, Ring A Ling Ding improved his record to five wins from 12 starts and $100,512 in the bank. Looking for his first stakes victory, he previously placed third in the West Texas Derby (G3) in 2026 and entered the trials off a fourth-place finish in the Sam Houston Derby (G3). Last year, he placed third in the Four Corners Futurity and was a finalist in the West Texas Futurity (G2).

The $181,000 Retama Park Derby final is scheduled for July 25. Here is the complete list of qualifiers.

:20.261 Royalist by Corona Cartel (Los Al Equine Mixed Sale $120,000) O: Hector Reina • B: Veronica Gail Kawananakoa (CA) • T: Ben Olaveson • J: Luis L. Vivanco

:20.471 Cobra Stone 77 by Pyc Paint Your Wagon (TQHA Sale $50,000 RNA) O: Rancho La Cobra • B: Rancho La Cobra (TX) • T: John A. Stinebaugh • J: Rosendo E. Pina Garcia

:20.500 Ring a Ling Ding by Pa Cha Ching O: Cherie Wallin and Cade Wallin • B: R Armor & S F/Helen Henderson (NM) • T: Richard D. Sedillo • J: Nestor Duran

:20.573 The Valiant Flame by The Louisiana Cartel O: Torres Buildings • B: Torres Buildings (TX) • T: Brian Stroud • J: Jose R. Herbert

:20.644 Mw Bullet Train by Freighttrain B (Heritage Place Yearling Sale $27,000) O: Jimenas Ranch • B: Larry K. Marcum & Nancy C. Wells (OK) • T: Raul Ramirez • J: Oliver E. Martinez

:20.650 Inflation by Apollitical Blood O: Jerry Windham • B: Jerry Windham (TX) • T: Marc E. Jungers • J: Raul Padilla Hernandez Jr.

:20.698 Flying Diamond Mv by Good Reason Sa (Heritage Place Yearling Sale $30,000) O: Ysela Edytt Najera • B: Paulo Otavio Freire MacEdo (CA) • T: Ysela Edytt Najera • J: Rigoberto Camarillo Ortega

:20.714 Litenin by Class King (TQHA Sale $17,000) O: Rene Roman • B: Bullard Farms (TX) • T: Janessa Lee Muniz • J: Raul Padilla Hernandez Jr.

:20.722 Jlc Show Time by Ss Samson (TQHA Sale $5,000) O: Esteban G. Lopez • B: John Louis Chamberlain (TX) • T: Jesus Huitron Lira • J: Luis L. Vivanco

:20.772 Prize Time Lelo by Pyc Prize Time O: Jose Edelio Cantu Jr. • B: Jose E. Cantu Jr. (TX) • T: Juan Isidro Cantu • J: Aniceto Gomez

HEAVY FAVORITE BLUDZ VALIANT POLICY TAKES THE $50,000 SELMA STAKES-G3| Ridden by Luis Vivanco, Bludz Valiant Policy broke first but dropped to third at the first call. The three-year-old filly regained control in the stretch before pulling away to a 1 1/2-length victory at the wire.

She completed the 350 yards in :17.654 seconds, earning a 102 speed index while running into a 9 mph headwind. The effort returned $2.60 to win as the heavy favorite.

"I'm very happy because the horse won. Thank God we got the win," said Luis Vivanco.

All of Bludz Valiant Policy's previous stakes appearances had come at 400 yards. The Selma Stakes marked her first stakes start at the 350-yard distance.

When asked about the shorter distance and his strategy, Vivanco added, "It was a little shorter, and the strategy was to break out in front, but we started a bit behind. Still, thank God it didn't cause any trouble; we managed to close the gap and win."

Trainer Ben Olaveson saddled Bludz Valiant Policy for owner/breeder Three Bar T Quarter Horses. She is out of the Tres Seis mare BP Tres Policies.

The daughter of Apollitical Blood improved her record to five wins, one second and one third from eight starts. The $34,140 winner's share increased her career earnings to $126,110. Bludz Valiant Policy entered the race off a runner-up finish in the Sam Houston Oaks and was a finalist in last year's Dash For Cash Futurity (G2).

Di KVN Waven finished a game second under Oliver Martinez for owner Refugio Alvarado and trainer Jose Martinez. The filly closed willingly to earn the runner-up spot while stopping the clock in :17.878 seconds for a 95 speed index.

Bred by Jacobo Garza, Di KVN Waven was a $24,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate. The daughter of KVN Corona is out of the Mr Piloto mare Waven Bye Piloto.

Di KVN Waven has lit the board in eight of ten starts with five career victories and has banked $315,337. Her accomplishments include victories in the Louisiana Downs Futurity (G2) and TQHA Sires Cup Futurity (G2). She entered the Selma Stakes following a fifth-place effort in the Sam Houston Derby (G3).

Fabulous Casina rallied to finish third under Nestor Duran for owner Dee Tiller and trainer Brittany Tellez. The filly covered the distance in :17.892 seconds while earning a 94 speed index.

Bred by Bobby Myers, Fabulous Casina is a $14,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate by One Fabulous Eagle and out of the stakes-winning PYC Paint Your Wagon mare BM Casina Royale.

The three-time stakes winner entered the race off a victory in the Sam Houston 250 Stakes and now owns a record of 5-2-5 with earnings of $145,864 from 16 starts. Her previous stakes victories include the TQHA Sale Sophomore Stakes and the La Villita Stakes.

Shez Flyn finished fourth and was followed by Baby Ruth, Eyesa Wagon My Tale, Jess Louisiana Girl, Fine Wine Kisses, and Ruse Dynasty 123. Trixiee was scratched.

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. Royalist and jockey Luis Vivanco post the fastest qualifying time to the $181,000 Retama Park Derby on July 3.

2. Bludz Valiant Policy and jockey Luis Vivanco pull away late to win the Grade 3 $50,000 Selma Stakes on July 3.