Reigning World Champion JRC Callas First will look to record his 13th career win in Friday’s TQHA 550 Stakes at Retama Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

SELMA, TX—JULY 23, 2015—World Champion JRC Callas First will look to record his 13th career win in Friday’s TQHA 550 Stakes at Retama Park. A victory would boost his earnings closer to $300,000 in just 22 starts.

With regular pilot Damian Martinez sporting the colors of Dana & Brian Stroud, the five year old son of Winner’s Award will face off against Claud Denson’s The Field Cricket and Selma Stakes winner Msg Image Of Sixes along with five other rivals. The 550 Stakes will be the eighth race of The Friday card.

The Benny Pennington Memorial has lured a field of eight (depending on which race The Field Cricket runs in since he’s entered in The Memorial and The 550) with Droppin Timber being the likely favorite from Remington Park. Recently Stakes placed in Oklahoma City, the son of First Timber will look to pick off his first Stakes win of the year under Juan Garcia Jr.

Owner and Trainer John Boegner sends the team of Speed Bok and Bling Bling Bok postward as they will be the only two mares in the race. Speed Bok is a perfect two for two this year at Retama as Bling Bling Bok was a solid runner-up in The Universal City Handicap on opening weekend. Both are by multiple stakes sire Boknaai.

The TQHA 250 Stakes will conclude the Friday action as last year’s winner Jess A Comment will return to defend his 250 title after winning the race a year ago. Trained by Mike Robbins with private pilot Luis Ramirez to guide, Jess A comment is fresh off a stellar win in The King William Handicap on the 4th of July. Opposition likely comes from DB Captain King who was runner-up in The King William and stakes placed Eye Agree.

The Jones Bloodstock Starter Stakes will be the 2nd race of the day and brings out Track Record Holder Jess A Little Pool who recently set the mark for 300 yards at the Selma strip in a time of 15:47. Jockey David Alvarez is in town for the ride aboard the son of Pool.

The Friday card also plays host to The Adequan Derby Challenge Trials which will be the third through the sixth races. The Adequan Derby Challenge will be run on Saturday, August 8th.

Saturday at Retama serves up the richest race of the year with the $413,000 plus Grade II TQHA Sale Futurity at 350 yards. Saving the best for last, the sale futurity will be run as the 11th race of program. Top qualifier Sissy Cartel will look to extend her undefeated record of two for two and will once again have the services of veteran jockey Ignacio Bustamante. She is by first crop sire The Louisiana Cartel.

In the race prior to, $136,000 Retama Park Derby will serve as the tenth race of the night at 400 yards. The three year old dash will be contested for the 20th time as top qualifier Rare Legs will be in search of his third straight win. Jockey Santos Carrizales will have the call atop the young son of Rare King. The Swagger Wagon could be the spoiler after an impressive trial victory for Trainer Cindi Keeton. Oscar Hernandez has returned to Retama for the mount aboard the Pyc Paint Your Wagon gelding.

Trials for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge will occupy most of the Saturday card from race two to the ninth race as two year olds will try to earn a spot in the final which will be run on Saturday, August 8th. The John Deere Challenge is part of The Bank Of America Challenge Series in which the winner goes on the represent Texas in The National Challenge race run later this year.

Post time for both nights is 6:45 pm.