Rgs Gold Wagon, ridden by James Flores, wins the King William Stakes on Saturday at Retama Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JUNE 28, 2025–RGS Gold Wagon defended his title with a determined effort in Saturday night’s $68,100 King William Stakes (G3) at Retama Park, defeating a competitive group of older runners in a 350-yard dash against a strong 15-mph headwind.

The five-year-old gelding surged late to win by a neck in 17.805 seconds, earning a 96 speed index and the winner’s share of $40,860. The victory paid $6.80 to win on 8-1 odds.

RGS Gold Wagon was returning to the track off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf RP Invitational Championship in May. Back in familiar territory at Retama, he showed his class once more. Jockey James Flores had him forward early, and the gelding dug in gamely through the final strides.

The winning connections of Rgs Gold Wagon accept the King Williams Stakes trophy at Retama Park on Saturday. © Jack Coady Photography

Trained by Steven Jordan and owned by GGG Racing LLC, the sorrel gelding now boasts five stakes wins. His resume includes victories in the Mr Jet Moore Stakes (G2), Jack Brooks Stakes (G3), and EVD Futurity (G3). Bred in Oklahoma by Roy Garza, RGS Gold Wagon is by Prized Wagon, out of Ja Gols Debutante, a daughter of Gol. With this win, he improves to 10 wins from 35 starts and surpasses $520,000 in career earnings.

Runner-up Copper Pipes turned in a strong performance from post six. Sent off at long odds, the four-year-old gelding put in a late run under Oliver Martinez but came up just short. The Flying Cowboy 123 gelding, out of Tacarosie by Tac It Like A Man, was bred in Texas by Rigby Castillo Racing/Mark Rigby.

He is trained by Angel Sanchez and races for Fatima Sanchez. The second-place finish added $13,620 to his bankroll, pushing his earnings to $50,841 from 13 starts. He continues to build a reputation as a steady competitor, hitting the board in 10 of those outings.

Sunday Sylence took third in a narrow finish, just a head behind the runner-up. The five-year-old daughter of Ivory James showed her usual tenacity under Nestor Duran, holding her own against the boys in this stakes-filled field.

Trained by Cristian Alcala for Alcala Ranch LLC, the Louisiana-bred is out of Featuring Jessie by Feature Mr Jess. Bred by Bobby D. Cox, Sunday Sylence was a $13,000 purchase at the 2021 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale and has now earned $191,455 from 16 starts.

Margins between the top three were tight: a neck separated first from second, another neck from second to third, and only a head back to fourth. Apollitical Ike settled for fourth after a solid mid-race move. Hes a Jet One, Believe in Perry, Kiss My Hat, Tyger King, and Lgm Flirting Hero completed the order of finish.

The remaining order of finish was: Bodies Blow Out fourth, Flo Sixes Ridin fifth, and R Thirtyeightspecial sixth.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted with this article as soon as it is available from the track photographer.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.