Ebrima (#6) battles to victory in the $63,300 Sires' Cup Derby over Louisiana Seis (#5) on Saturday at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography

SELMA, TX—SEPTEMBER 1, 2018—Ebrima turned the tables on fastest qualifier Louisiana Seis in the $63,300 Sires Cup Derby at Retama on Saturday night. Ebrima had run second to Louisiana Seis in the last of three trials on August 18 and was the second fastest qualifier; in the final, Ebrima pulled ahead to defeat Louisiana Seis by a nose.

It was the first stakes win for Ebrema. As a 2-year-old, the Captain Courage filly won her trial to the TQHA Sires Cup Futurity by two lengths and returned to run second in the final.

The winning connections of Ebrima accepting the Sires' Cup Derby stakes trophy on Saturday evening at Retama Park. © Coady Photography

Ebrima ($8.20) and Jesse Levario came home in 19.915 in the 400-yard final.

Alonso Neil trains Ebrima for owner Ruben Garcia Montemayor. Bobby Cox bred the filly in Texas, out of the First to Shine mare McM Don’t Look Back. She was now won four of her 11 lifetime starts and has earned $138,076; two of her lifetime wins have come at Retama, and she has never finished worse than second in four efforts at the track.

Louisiana Seis was a nose behind the winner but a length ahead of the rest of the pack. J. R. Ramirez had the call for trainer Jose Lopez. The 3-year-old gray gelding is owned by Christine and Kenneth Blouch and Jose Espinosa.

Louisiana Seis is a Texas-bred son of The Louisiana Cartel. He was bred by Richard Arizpe, out of the Tres Seis mare Seis Passes. He has qualified for several stakes, including the $212,000 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs and the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) in 2017.

Leading the charge from the rest of the pack was Poise N Courage and jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. Poise N Courage ran second in her trial as the fourth fastest qualifier overall.

Poise N Courage is trained by Alonso Neri for owner Almada Racing. She was bred in Texas by Bullard Farms, by Captain Courage and out of Poise N Pepper, by Truly First Class.

Poise N Courage has only finished in the money in eight of her ten lifetime starts; this was her first stakes appearance.

Completing the field were Coronarita Blue, Shake Em Rocks, First Lady Eleanor, He Win It, Dee Giorgino Dee, The New Assasin and Bush Tempo.