Eye Am Tuff (#1) defeating Diamond G Bee (#9) and Kashman (#2) in the $124,000 Sies Cup Futurity at Retama Park.

SELMA, TX—SEPTEMBER 1, 2018—It was a close photo for the win and an upset either way, but Eye Am Tuff and Ricardo Garza-Cruz came home on top in the $124,000 Sires Cup Derby in the feature race at Retama on Saturday night.

Eye Am Tuff ($27.20) edged out 20-1 Diamond G Bee at the wire for the win. Final time for the 350-yard race was 18.027.

Eye Am Tuff is trained by Kie Mushinski for owner and breeder Sue Fikes. The grey 2-year-old gelding is by Carters Cartel, out of the Royal Shake Em mare Loves Easter Bunny.

The winning connections of Eye Am Tuff accepting the Sires' Cup Futurity stakes trophy on Saturday evening at Retama Park. © Coady Photography

This was the first start in a stakes race for the Texas-bred gelding, and it was also his first win. He was third in his final, the first of five on August 17, and was the eighth fastest qualifier overall. Prior to breaking his maiden in the final, he had finished second in his debut and third in three races, including his Sires Cup Futurity trial.

Diamond G Bee and Francisco Mendez made up ground in the final and nearly overtook the winner, finished a head behind Eye Am Tuff in second and a head in front of third-place finisher Kashman.

The Jimmy Padgett trainee is owned by Bryan Gardner and was bred in Texas by Stephan and Lisa Ralston. The filly is by Majestic Cartel, and is out of Hermes for Me B, by Separatist.

Diamond G Bee debuted at Sam Houston and placed third, she broke her maiden in her next start at Retama and then finished fourth in her trial, behind Eye Am Tuff, after breaking out and being bumped at the break.

Kashman won the trial the same trial that qualified Eye Am Tuff and Diamond G Bee and was the fastest qualifier to Saturday’s final. The gelding hails from the Yoni Martinez barn and is owned by Maria Gama Medrano.

Dan Moon bred the gelding in Idaho. He is sired by Prospect to the Top and is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Kashmere. Kashman broke his maiden in the trial after five previous career starts, and his Sires Cup Futurity appearance was his first in a stakes event.

Completing the field were Baller, Rosearian, Jlc First Prize Elva, Coronas On the Coast, Jm Destiny, Rock Solid Shake and Cosmos Finest.