By Martha Claussen

SELMA, TX—JULY 25, 2014—Retama Park kicked off its biggest stakes weekend of the 2014 Quarter Horse season with five stakes and trials for the Adequan Derby Challenge. It was a notable evening for trainer Judd Kearl, owner/breeder Jerry Windham and jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, who combined for a victory in the TQHA Classic Stakes and the fastest qualifier in trials for the Adequan Derby Challenge (Click here for related story).

Stimulus Turns Back Loves Brown Sugar in the $38,000 TQHA Classic Stakes

A compact, but mighty field of accredited Texas-breds was assembled for the $38,000 TQHA Classic Stakes at 400 yards, Defending champion, G. Sue Fikes’ homebred Loves Brown Sugar was sent off at .90-1, but was denied by a huge run from Stimulus. The gray son of Mr Jess Perry out of the Runaway Winner mare Veva Jean is owned and bred by Jerry Windham.

Trained by Judd Kearl, this was the fourth win and first stakes victory for the gray 4-year-old. Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, Stimulus closed with authority in :19.781, earning a speed index of 96.

Vanessa Bartoo's Mr Taka B shipped in from Ruidoso Downs and was a game second, edging the defending champion, Loves Brown Sugar by a neck. John Stinebaugh conditions the 5-year-old Feature Mr Jess gelding bred by Bielau Oaks.

Loves Brown Sugar races for owner/breeder Sue Fikes and is trained by Kie Mushinski. The graded stakes winner by Prime Talent.

Chiefs Corona Charm was fourth, followed by Plunge The Depths. AQHA Supreme racehorse, Charal Kid, who has amassed career earnings of $511,619, ran last.

Stimulus, sent off as the fourth-betting choice, returned $16.20 to win. He earned $22,800 for the victory.

Jess a Comment Impressive in the $35,000 TQHA 250 Stakes

A full field of sprinters put on an exciting show in the $35,000 TQHA 250 Stakes with Michael Amburn's Jess a Comment returning to the winner's circle. Ridden to victory by Luis Ramirez, the 5-year-old gelded son of First Comment was making his 21st start, and picked up his fifth career win.

Trained by Guy Hopkins, Jess a Comment ($11.80) crossed the wire in :13.374, as the third choice in the ten-horse field. He earned $21,000 to increase his bankroll to $154,660. Filimon Saucedo's Cristata, at 30-1, ran second, followed by last year's winner, Sparrow Contender.

Crista is a daughter of leading sire Mr Jess Perry from the Runaway Winner mare Shesa Winning Rose. Robert and Karen Nunnally are the breeders.

Sparrow Contender is a 5-year-old Contender horses owned Israel Soliz, Jr. Adrian Huitron conditions with Francisco Calderon riding. Irma Trevino is the breeder.

John The Banker, Pyro, Ss Poker Face Dream, Bux for Bricks, Hiclass Heat, Royally Painted and Braggin Bout My Zoom completed the field. Jrc Callas First Keeps Streak Alive in the $34,750 TQHA 550 Stakes

Jrc Callas First continued his mastery of the distance of 550 yards with another gritty win in the $34,750 TQHA 550 Stakes. Owned by Dana and Brian Stroud and trained by Brian Stroud, the 4-year-old son of Winners Award added his fourth win of 2014 under regular rider Damian Martinez.

His time this evening of 27.283 did not surpass his record-setting performance of :26.85 in the $15,000 Tower Of The Americas Handicap, but was impressive, nonetheless.

Lethal Volt, under Luis Vivanco, finished second for owners Dana Adams, P.K. Thomas and Gene White. Thomas bred the Volcom gelding from the Chicks Beduino mare Miss Lethal. Toby Keeton trained with Luis Vivanco riding.

Alejandra Carrion's Ec Cartel finished third. Judd Kearl trains the Tinys First Corona gelding out of Twayna Too, by Zevi (TB). Rodrigo Vallejo had the riding call. Enrique Carrion is the breeder.

Frankie B and Rawhide Legend completed the field.

Jrc Callas First ($3.80) has won seven of 13 starts with earnings of $57,404.

Jessa Little Rusty Wires Field in the $23,250 Benny Pennington Memorial

The evening began with five distance specialists in the $23,250 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes, honoring the late Texas horseman. Louis M. Howard's Jessa Little Rusty captured the 870 yard stakes in gate-to-wire fashion under Omar Reyes in a final clocking of :46.164.

Breaking from post position two, the 4-year-old son of Mr Jess Perry made the most of his Retama Park debut, turning the tables on Dashers Midnight, who has the edge in the Red Cell Distance Challenge at Sam Houston Race Park on April 12.

John Stinebaugh trains Jessa Little Rusty, who was sent off at odds of 6-1 and rewarded his backers with a win payout of $14.60. Dashers Midnight rallied for second under Santos Carrizales.

Clyde Wilmott bred the bay gelding from the Royal Quick Dash mare Rustys Quickid.

Dashers Midnight is a homebred son of Some Dasher racing for Joe and Elaine McAnnally and trained by James Gerhards. Santos Carrizales had the riding assignment.

Jesse Yoakum saddled The Field Cricket to a third place finish for owner Claud Denson. Mary Denson bred the Lead The Field gelding from the Royal Quick Dash mare Quick Lil Cricket.

Fire on the Fly and Kool Expectations completed the course.

Special Destination Upsets in the $17,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes

Special Destination was a convincing winner in the evening's second stakes, the $17,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes.

Owned by G. W. Hartstack and B and B Electric Company and trained by Leon Bard, the 4-year-old daughter of Special Leader out of the First Down Dash mare Daring Destination, broke ninth, but powered up from the outside post to win by a head. Jockey Francisco Calderon was in the irons and crossed the wire of the 350-yard sprint in :18.016.

Nancy Carrizales' Six Time Special was sent off as the favorite and secured the runner-up spot. Edelmiro Carrizales conditions the Streakin Sixes filly out of Shesa Wicked Gypsy by Strawfly Special. Santos Carrizales was up.

Zoomin Effortlessly ran third for trainer L.R. "Tooter" Jordan and owner Pamela Stone. Rodrigo Vallejo rode the Zommin for Bux gelding out of Royal Quick Affair, by Royal Quick Dash. Tommy Gharbula is the breeder.

Pebbles Corona, Pool Room, Dashin Favorite, Agoutis Smoking, Cartel Fox, Madies Milkshake and Lets Get Silk completed the field.