Sonny Surfer, piloted by Claudio Aguilar, wins the San Marcos Stakes at Retama Park on Saturday in an upset.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JUNE 28, 2025–On Saturday, the San Marcos Stakes at Retama Park delivered a surprise finish in a field stacked with accomplished distance horses. With a purse of $43,600 and contested at 870 yards against a strong 15 mph headwind, the race drew a compact yet formidable group of five older runners, with Sonny Surfer leading the pack.

Sonny Surfer, piloted by Claudio Aguilar, shocked bettors and connections alike by storming to victory at odds of 17-1. The seven-year-old gelding surged to the lead from post one and never looked back.

Despite not having raced since finishing fifth in back-to-back graded events at the end of 2023, Sonny Surfer controlled the tempo and fended off all challengers, crossing the wire in 47.174 seconds with a speed index of 81. The longshot’s effort paid $36.40 for the win on a $2.00 wager.

The winning connections of Sonny Surfer accept the San Marcos Stakes trophy at Retama Park on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

His front-running effort secured a 3/4-length margin of victory over Rock Ya Later and heavy favorite The Grand Legend. The first-place finish earned him the winner's share of $26,160, boosting his lifetime earnings to $154,030. The son of Corona Surfer, trained by Juan Hernandez for owner Maria G. Ortiz.

Bred by Dosi and Norma Alvarez in New Mexico, he is out of the Thoroughbred mare Domeinitchy, by Dome. Sonny Surfer was originally consigned to the 2019 Ruidoso New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale, where he was a $20,000 repurchase.

Finishing second was Rock Ya Later, a five-year-old gelding by Rock Solid Jess. Owned by Rockin J Running Horses and trained by Tammy Johnson, Rock Ya Later was once again partnered with jockey Victor Urieta, Jr., who had just guided him to a runner-up finish behind The Grand Legend in the Governors Marathon Stakes two weeks earlier.

Rock Ya Later came from just off the pace this time, launching a three-wide rally in the stretch and closing with determination. He was gaining but ran out of ground, finishing a nose in front of the favorite to claim second and a check for $8,720.

He was bred in Texas by Melissa L. Slayton out of Dosvedanya by Separatist. With this performance, his earnings rose to $201,564 from 31 career starts, though he continues to chase a win since his triumph in last December’s King Rick Rack Stakes-G2.

The Grand Legend, the heavy favorite and last year’s San Marcos winner, was ridden to third by jockey Noe Villatoro. The nine-year-old sorrel gelding by FDD Going Grand entered the race riding a hot streak that included wins in the Governors Cup Marathon Stakes-G3 and the Sam Houston Distance Challenge Stakes.

Trained by A. Guzman, The Grand Legend sat off the early pace and made his move around the turn, swinging four-wide into the lane. Despite his trademark late kick, he appeared to hang in the final strides and settled for third, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

He earned $4,796, pushing his remarkable career bankroll to $466,063 from 43 starts, including 18 victories—nine in stakes company. Representing owner James C. Whitener, LLC, The Grand Legend is out of Legendary Seis by Tres Seis and was bred by Mercy Hinklin’s Horse Farm LLC.

Behind them in fourth came Thrill and Fury, who pressed the pace early but weakened late, and Eagle Lit, who bore out on the turn and trailed the field home.

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