SELMA, TX–Saturday night closed out opening weekend at Retama Park with the older horses taking center stage in the final three featured stakes races, as Yippee Ki Yey rallied to upset the Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes, Lil Perry Wagon earned his first career stakes victory in the Gary Baber Memorial Stakes, and multiple Grade 1 winner Shakers No Secret returned to the winner's circle with a dominant gate-to-wire score in the Grade 3 King William Stakes.

The evening's 10-race program also showcased standout performances by the night's leading connections, with jockey Claudio Aguilar posting a riding triple, Raul Hernandez Jr. recording a riding double, and trainer Brittany Tellez saddling a pair of winners.

"We had a great opening weekend with action-packed stakes and very competitive races,” said Retama Park Racing Secretary, Mike Acton. “Congratulations to all of the winning connections. We are just getting started with the excitement of this meet.”

$45,700 SAN MARCOS STAKES-G3 Yippee Ki Yey rallied from just off the pace to defeat Master Reigns by a half-length in the $45,700 Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes. Ridden by Alejandro Medina, Yippee Ki Yey tailed Master Reigns into the final stretch before launching a sustained drive through the wire to stop the clock in :47.912 seconds. The son of Tres Seis won by a 1/2-length and the upset over the post-time favorites plade $16.80 to win on 7-1 odds.

Trained by Richard Sedillo for owner-breeder Stanley Forbes, the five-year-old gelding is out of the stakes-placed Fantastic Corona Jr mare Jess Shantastic. The victory was worth $27,420 and boosted his career earnings to $143,293 while improving his record to 4 wins, 4 seconds and 5 thirds from 27 starts.

"We prepared well for this race," Sedillo said following the race. "First off, shout out to Stanley Forbes for giving us an opportunity with this horse. We've kind of known with the last three races that he just needed a clean trip, and he got one today, so that's good."

Yippee Ki Yey entered the race off a third-place finish in the Governors' Cup Marathon Stakes (G3). The victory marked his first stakes win since capturing the Ruidoso Juvenile Stakes in 2023.

Making his first start aboard the gelding, Medina was pleased with the veteran runner's effort.

"He behaved well in the gate, broke good, took off and finished well," Medina said.

Asked if he thought he would catch longtime leader Master Reigns, Medina replied, "That's his style. This horse always comes from behind with a late run and closes at the wire."

Master Reigns, under Raul Hernandez Jr., set the pace along the rail and battled gamely throughout before yielding late. The seven-year-old gelding races for owner-breeder Bronc Richard Hawkins and trainer Marc Jungers.

By Dash Master Jess out of the He Will Reign mare Dancee Reigns, he now owns a record of 6-7-5 with earnings of $168,993 from 38 starts. He was coming off a runner-up finish in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes (G3) from two weeks ago, a race he won in 2025.

Eye Will Decide finished strongly for third after being steadied during the running and angling inside for room in the stretch. Ridden by Noe Villatoro for owner-breeder Byron Gardner and trainer Adan Guzman, the eight-year-old gelding is by Majestic Cartel and out of the Valiant Hero mare Valiant Lil Lady.

The multiple stakes winner improved his record to 8-9-5 with earnings of $239,169 from 34 starts. As the heavy favorite, Eye Will Decide entered the race off an impressive five-length victory in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes (G3) and previously won both the San Marcos Stakes and Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes in 2023.

Louisiana Mystery placed fourth, Eye Am Tuff was fifth, followed by Hondo Hocks and Fire Bolt B to round out the order of finish. Flyin Rusty was scratched.

$47,200 GARY BABER MEMORIAL STAKES 7-5 favorite, Lil Perry Wagon earned the first stakes victory of his career, surging to a one-length win over Top Cowboy and 550 veteran Onthrocks in the $47,200 Gary Baber Memorial Stakes.

Ridden by Javier Hernandez, Lil Perry Wagon broke in the middle of the pack but and took command early, holding off a determined challenge from Top Cowboy to complete the 550-yard test in :27.685, earning a 99 speed index.

Owned by Ubaldo Fuentes Jr. and trained by Brittany Tellez, the bay gelding was bred in Oklahoma by Randy and Stacy Hill. A $15,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, he is sired by Lil Kool Wagon and out of the Mr Jess Perry mare KT Perry.

The victory was worth $28,320 and increased his earnings to $165,094 from a record of 25 starts with eight wins, three seconds and four thirds. Prior to Saturday's breakthrough, Lil Perry Wagon had finished second in last year's Gary Baber Memorial and was third in the 2023 Sam Houston Derby (G3).

"Thank God we got the win," said Tellez. "I missed having my husband here—he's the one who usually rides the horse—but Mr. Javier gave the horse a really good ride."

Hernandez was making his first start aboard the gelding.

"They trusted me to ride the horse for the first time and it went well," Hernandez said. "He was very relaxed at the starting gates, then he burst forward, and we took it from there."

Conditioned by trainer Marc Jungers, Top Cowboy finished a game second under Luis Vivanco. The five-year-old gelding races for owners Rodrigo Gonzalez and Leviram Racing LLC.

A $62,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale and later a $47,000 repurchase at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, Top Cowboy is by champion Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Paradice City.

Still seeking his first stakes victory, Top Cowboy holds a record of 3-4-4 from 20 starts and boosted his earnings to $89,388. He entered the race off a fourth-place finish in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes (G3). His previous black-type efforts include runner-up finishes in the BF Phillips Jr. Stakes (G2) and the Gary Baber Memorial, along with thirds in the Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes and Rainbow Derby Invitational Stakes.

550 stakes specialist, Onthrocks finished third under Nestor Duran for owner Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio. Bred by Ware Racing & Ranching LLC, he is out of the Stoli mare Stol A Bunny. The son of A Revenant increased his earnings to $263,876 while compiling a record of 8-6-8 from 34 starts.

The accomplished stakes winner entered the race off a third-place finish in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes (G3) and owns victories in five 550 stakes, including the Grade 3 TQHA 550 Stakes (twice), Sam Houston 550 Stakes (twice), and Tower of the Americas Stakes.

Nine One Won finished fourth and was followed by Determined, Big Lew Love, DM Special Cat, Sweet Storm, Rude Gurl and Run Like Da Devil.

$69,000 KING WILLIAM STAKES-G3 Seeking redemption after several near wins this season, Shakers No Secret found his stride and scored an impressive victory in the $69,000 Grade 3 King William Stakes.

Shakers No Secret has finished on the board in three of four stakes starts this season. He was second in the Remington Park Championship Challenge (G2), third in the Leo Stakes (G1), and fourth in the Championship at Sunland Park (G1).

Coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship Stakes in late, while facing some of the toughest competition in the sport, he was ready for the win in the King William Stakes.

"It felt great," Hernandez said when asked about taking command early. "He came out, his feet kind of slipped a little, but he gathered up and got going. He was a little on his own so he started looking for the competition. I had his head turned the whole way, but luckily we had plenty of horse."

Ridden by Raul Hernandez Jr., the gray gelding broke from the rail and led from gate-to-wire for a 3/4-length victory in the 350-yard stakes. He completed the distance in :18.009 while earning a 91 speed index. Favored to win, Shakers No Secret’s effort paid $2.80 on 2-5 odds.

Trainer Marc Jungers saddled Shakers No Secret for owners Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez and Manny Dutchover. Bred in Texas by Garlyn Shelton, the $14,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate is out of the No Secrets Here mare Shaker Secret.

One of the ownership partners credited the preparation of Jungers and his team for the performance.

"We were expecting a good race," he said. "Talking to the trainer all the last few weeks, he's had him on point, and we're blessed with the team we have. These guys are great." The victory was worth $41,400 and boosted the six-year-old son of Five Bar Cartel’s earnings to $823,525 with a record 10 wins, 10 seconds and 6 thirds from 40 starts. Saturday's score came during his 15th consecutive stakes appearance. Among his other career highlights are victories in the AQHA Challenge Championship Stakes (G1) and Championship at Sunland Park (G1).

Rockin The Train closed willingly to finish second under Jose Herbert in his first start of the season for owner-breeder Debra Gotovac. The four-year-old gelding is by BP Wagon Train and out of the Rock Solid Jess mare Rock Solid Jet. Trained by Bradley Bolen, he improved his record to 20-5-4-1 and increased his earnings to $126,135.

Rockin The Train hadn’t raced since last year where he placed second in the Evangeline Downs Derby. He previously won the 2024 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge Stakes. Still searching for another stakes victory, he rallied late but was unable to threaten the winner.

Klass Action finished third under Luis Vivanco for breeder-owner Garlyn Shelton and trainer Marc Jungers. The four-year-old gelding is by all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess and out of stakes winner Stoli Angel. He now owns a record of 3-0-4 from 14 starts with earnings of $40,665 and entered the race off back-to-back victories. Despite the strong recent form, he remains in search of his first stakes win.

The remaining order of finish behind the top three was Defours, Jess Pretty N Black, Invasive and Fast Flyer 123, followed by Hes Bold As Corona, who was disqualified from fourth to eighth. Church Spire 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. Yippee Ki Yey and jockey Alejandro Medina rally from just off the pace to win the $45,700 Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes

2. Lil Perry Wagon and jockey H. Hernandez score a one-length victory in the $47,200 Gary Baber Memorial Stakes.

3. Shakers No Secret and jockey Raul Hernandez Jr. lead throughout to win the $69,000 Grade 3 King William Stakes