Jess Iam First Royal, under jockey Froylan Tellez Ramirez, winning the $15,000 Selma Stakes Friday night at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography

SELMA, TX—JULY 6, 2018—The feature race on Retama’s Friday night card was a runaway victory for Jess Iam First Royal, who defeated a full field of 3-year-old and up fillies and mares by over two lengths in the $15,000 Selma Stakes. Froylan Ramirez and Jess Iam First Royal posted a time of :17.435 for 350 yards and earned a speed index of 107.

Jess Iam First Royal ($17.00) was an upset winner of the Selma Stakes as she made her first start following a layoff since December. The Felipe Garza trainee has now won five races and earned $35,239 in her career. The Selma was her first stakes win.

Jess Iam First Royal is a homebred for Simon Escamilla. The 4-year-old filly is by MJB Corona and is out of Iam First Royal, by First Weapon.

The winning connections of Jess Ima First Royal accept the Selma Stakes trophy Friday night at Retama Park. © Coady Photography

Leading the charge for second place was First Prize Friend and Victor Urieta, Jr. The Texas-bred First Down Dash filly finished a half-length ahead of Together to the End in third place.

Trey Wood trains First Prize Friend, who is owned by Randy and Sandy Coleman. Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches bred the filly of the Corona Cartel mare Ms First Prize Rose, winner of the 2013 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso and the 2014 PCQHRA Breeders Derby at Los Alamitos.

First Prize Friend is stakes placed and has finished in the money in five of her eight career starts.

Third-place finisher Together to the End was ridden by Jose Martinez for trainer Elpidio Luna, Jr. and owner Valerie Moya. The 3-year-old filly was bred in Texas by Alejandro Moya, out of Gabbey Holland, by Holland Ease.

The daughter of Inseperable broke her maiden in her debut at Louisiana Downs when she won her trial for the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity. She returned to win the final, a Grade 3 event, and has competed in trials for her last four starts prior to the Selma. She is three for seven lifetime with $112,280 in career earnings to date.

Completing the field were Sugars First Love, Marfilous, Tempting Feefee, Easy Gold Pop, Shez Just Courageous, Moneypenny and Red Stem.