Multiple stakes winner Charal Kid will make his 2014 debut in the TQHA Classic at Retama Park Friday night.

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SELMA, TX—JULY 22, 2014—Friday will begin what will be the biggest weekend of Quarter Horse Racing at Retama Park this year, and Friday is just the warm up. With no lack of talent, five stakes events and four trials will occupy the program.

The Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes worth $20,000-added, will invite three-year-olds and upward around the hook at 870 yards. Though overmatched in The Remington Park Distance Handicap worth $50,000, Fire On The Fly should find The Benny Pennington a much more suitable spot.

Trained by Tommy Bullard for Bullard Farms of Weatherford Texas, the four-year-old son of Jet Cartel has won five of seven 870 contests with two of those being stakes wins. Jockey Luis Vivanco will guide the grey gelding as Fire On The Fly looks to push his earnings beyond $100,000. The Benny Pennington Memorial will be the second race of the night.

The third race of the card will be the $15,000-added Jones Insurance Bloodstock Starter Stakes for three-year-olds and upward at 350 yards. A full field of ten has been lured to the dash as the Tooter Jordan Trained Zoomin Fearlessly takes on Six Time Special and Dashin Favorite in what looks to be a evenly matched event.

The TQHA Classic will spotlight the program at 400 yards with a purse value of $35,000-added. Most of the local attention will likely go to Loves Brown Sugar who scored a powerhouse win in The King William and The Selma Stakes in her last two starts. Owned by Sue Fikes of Hearne Texas and trained by Kie Mushinski, the Prime Talent mare has dazzled her followers in her efforts which account for 10 victories from 25 starts and a bankroll of just over $129,000.

Just as in any contest, there’s always a new gunslinger in town. This time it’s the flash from Floresville known as the “Charal Kid”. No stranger to Retama and 18 scores to boot with earnings of more than a half million dollars, this eight-year-old starter of 50 has shown up in many places where a showdown is afoot. Adrian Huitron trained the Streakin La Jolla gelding with Francisco Calderon atop.

A total of 31 three-year-olds are slated to line up in the Adequan Retma Derby Challenge trials which will be the 5th though the 8th races on the card.

Eagle Money Pop, a gelding by leading sire One Famous Eagle, was third in the Derby Challenge at Houston and is one of many trained by Trey Wood that will vie for a spot in the Adequan. Wood will also have Runaway Renata and Los Alamitos invader Strategic Weapon headed postward as well.

Trainer Judd Kearl will send the Shazoom gelding Mister Big in search of his fourth career win after nabbing two stakes already. Kearl will also saddle Lindsayshadowdancer who chased Loves Brown Sugar home in The Selma Stakes. The Adequan trials will be contested at 400 yards.

Right after the Adequan trials, we’ll pick up the tempo with a quick TQHA 250 Stakes worth $30,000-added. If there was any question about SS Poker Face Dream and his ability to go long and short, they have been answered. Trained by Daniel Luna, the four-year-old son of Primetime Dream won The 110 yard Texas Twister at Houston and then proceeded to impress in the TQHA Sires Stakes at Retama. Luis Vivanco will have the riding assignment.

The TQHA 550 Stakes worth $30,000-added will close the night out as the tenth race as JRC Callas First will look to keep his winning ways in tact after having won The Tower Of The Americas Handicap in a track record time of :26.85 seconds. Owned by Dana and Brian Stroud and trained by Brian Stroud, Damien Martinez will guide the four-year-old son of Winners Award.

Post time is 6:45 pm for the Friday card. Friday is also Military Night with special discounts for past and present members of the Military with Military ID.