Embers Time, piloted by Alejandro Ochoa, wins the $58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes at Retama Park on Friday

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 25, 2025– Embers Time surged to victory in the $58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes at Retama Park on Friday, capturing her second stakes title of the season with a powerful closing finish over 250 yards.

The three-year-old Texas-bred filly crossed the wire in 13.270 seconds against a 10 mph headwind, earning a 103 speed index for the effort and securing the winner's share of $35,175 Racing for owner Javier Lujan and trained by Martin Rodriguez, Embers Time was ridden to victory by Alejandro Ochoa.

The winning connections of Embers Time accept the $58,625 TQHA 250 Stakes winning trophy on Friday at Retama Park. © Jack Coady Photography

She was bred in Texas by Alejandro Moya out of Fancy Embrujos, by Embrujo Fg. Purchased for $5,000 at the 2023 TQHA Yearling Sale, the bay filly has proven to be a bargain buy, with career earnings totalling $128,203. The daughter of Pyc Prize Time has a record of 5 wins, 1 second, and 5 thirds from 12 starts.

She previously won the John Buchanan Memorial Stakes in May and placed third in both the Miss Sam Houston Stakes and La Villita Stakes in June. Last season, she won the Dash For Cash Juvenile Stakes and hit the board in the TQHA Sale Juvenile.

Second-place finisher Ima Chili, a double-registered AQHA/APHA gelding, dueled early but was outkicked late to finish a length behind the winner. He clocked in at 13.447 seconds with a 95 speed index, earning $11,725 for owner Darrell L. Hooper.

Bred in Texas by Sarah Huskey, the son of Chilitos is out of Im Not Hillary, by Executive Menace. Trained by Zackary Rios and ridden by Nestor Duran, Ima Chili has now earned $60,194 from 11 starts with a record of 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds.

His stakes credentials include a win in the TPHBA Juvenile, a third-place finish in the Colors of Houston Futurity and the Alamos P&A Futurity, and a fourth-place effort in the Texas Hero Futurity. He was also a finalist in this year’s Paul Harber Memorial-G1.

Finishing third was Jj Jessa Dynasty, a gray filly bred in Texas by J & J Stables LLC out of Jb Chic Dynasty, by Fdd Dynasty. Trainer Jose Carrizales owns the daughter of Jj Jes An Meteorite in partnership with Jorge Alan Bazaldua Jr.

 Jj Jessa Dynasty was guided by jockey Ali Rivera to her third-place finish, 3/4 length behind Ima Chili. She stopped the clock in 13.549 seconds, earning a 91 speed index and a $6,449 payday. With earnings now totaling $68,867, her career includes five wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 16 starts. She finished fourth in the Old South Derby in May and was fifth in the Firecracker Derby-G3 earlier this month.

Rounding out the field in order of finish were Famous Corona Winner (4th), Goodtime in Texas (5th), Jess Louisiana Girl (6th), Cc Valiant (7th), Lucky Larry (8th), and You Look Famous (9th). Two horses—Dakota Gurl and Diamondbacked—were scratched from the race.

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

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