By Martha Claussen

SELMA, TX—JULY 29, 2016—Retama Park kicked off its biggest stakes weekend of the 2016 Quarter Horse season with and 11-race card featured five stakes and three trials for the Adequan Derby Challenge.

Jess Toast Winner Placed First in the $35,000 TQHA Classic Stakes

The $35,000 TQHA Classic Stakes went to Maria Guadalupe Araiza's homebred Jess Toast Winner followed the disqualification of Tlc Dale.

Jess Toast Winner finished second in the 400-yard feature, but was elevated to first when the stewards ruled that Tlc Dale had crossed over from his far outside post, bumping both Potus and Blue Duck La Jolla.

Pat Allen's Potus was then placed second and Tlc Dale disqualified from first and placed third. Jumpn Streak completed the superfecta

Jess Toast Winner was ridden by Cipriano Vidana and trained by Rodolfo Sanchez, who will saddle three finalists in Saturday's TQHA Sale Futurity. The 4-year-old son of Toast to Dash covered 400 yards in :20.233 has now won eight of his 13 starts.

The winner paid $9.60 and earned $21,000 for the victory.

My Glory Dash Impressive in the $30,000 TQHA 250 Stakes

A competitive field of sprinters put on an exciting show in the $30,000 TQHA 250 Stakes with Mary Lou Zoeller's My Glory Dash outdueling her eight rivals in an exciting finish. Ridden to victory by Francisco Calderon, the 5-year-old daughter of Shazooms Glory Dash was making her 24th start, and picked up his seventh career win.

Trained by J W Plunkett, My Glory Dash broke from post position two and dueled with Scott Hamilton's Paloma Blanca B to the wire. She exited runner-up finishes in two stakes earlier this year at Sam Houston Race Park, but proved to be fit and ready this evening.

Sent off at 9-1, My Glory Dash paid $20.60 for the win, stopping the clock in :13.41. Paloma Blanca B with Gaspar Garcia was next, followed by Red Corona Warrior and the favorite, Snipes and Bites.

If I Were Famous Scores in the $30,000 TQHA 550 Stakes

The scratches of two-time defending champion Jrc Callas First and EC Cartel opened the door for several contenders in the $30,750 TQHA 550 Stakes. A solid run by If I Were Famous did the trick as the 6-year-old son of One Famous Eagle held off a late charge by Bar Struck to capture his first win in two years.

Bred and owned by Dawn Ivey, If I Were Famous was saddled by trainer Leon Bard. Rider Gaspar Garcia guided the sorrel gelding to victory, covering 550 yards in :27.67 over a fast track. He earned a 96-speed index this evening.

Julio Cesar Ramirez's Bar Struck was declared second under rider David Alvarez in a tight photo finish, followed by Eyes Your Date and Sophies Special.

If I Were Famous was bet down from his 8-1 morning line and returned $6.40 as the 2-1 second- betting choice. The winner's share of the TQHA 550 Stakes was $18,000, increasing the lifetime bankroll of If I Were Famous to $79,102.

The Field Cricket Goes Gate-to Wire in the $20,000 Benny Pennington Memorial

A field of seven distance specialists went postward in the $20,00 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes, honoring the late Texas horseman. Making the most of his advantageous rail draw, The Field Cricket went gate-to-wire in the 870-yard stakes under jockey Russel Hadley.

Owned by Claud R. Denson and bred by Mary Denson, The Field Cricket was making his 46th career start this evening. Now, 8-years-old, he is by Lead the Field out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Quick Lil Cricket. Jesse Yoakum trains the veteran runner, who crossed the wire in :47.226, notching his 11th career victory.

Jerry Windham's homebred Stolis Pro, ridden by Francisco Calderon, ran second followed by Kjr Tocaille and multiple-stakes winner Dashers Midnight.

The Field Cricket, sent off as the fourth betting choice, rewarded his backers with a win payout of $11.20. His record now stands at 46-11-9-6 and earnings of $171,629.

Wanda Pennington, the widow of the beloved Benny Pennington, was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

Heavy Favorite Kw Cowboy Romps in the $15,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes

Kw Cowboy was a convincing winner in the evening's first stakes, the $15,000 Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes. Bred and owned by K and W Land and Cattle Co., the 4-year-old son of Mighty Corona out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Dia Noche, is conditioned by Brian Stroud.

He broke alertly under Jockey Juan Garcia, Jr. and drew off by 1 1/4 lengths over Gimmeahighfive and Sol Mecheemupjess.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Kw Cowboy ($3.40) crossed the wire of the 350-yard sprint in :17.91. This was his sixth win from 21 starts. With tonight's earnings of $9,000, he increased his career bankroll to $32,242.

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Live racing returns Saturday, July 30 at Retama Park with 11 races, including the $443,050 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG2), for 2-year-old graduates of the 2015 TQHA Yearling Sale.