Dr Pepper 123, under jockey Noe Villatoro, posted the fastest time from four trials to the $100,000-added Retama Park Derby on Wednesday at Retama Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By StallioneSearch

RETAMA PARK, OK—JULY 2, 2025—Trial night of the $205,300 Retama Park Derby trials saw a trio of standout 3-year-old Quarter Horses secure the three fastest qualifying spots for the 400-yard final to be held July 26, 2025.

Leading the way was Dr Pepper 123, who turned in the fastest time of the night by clocking 19.861 seconds, a 104 speed index over a muddy (sealed) racetrack while winning the second of four trials by half a length.

Dr Pepper 123, a gelding by second-crop sire Chilitos out of My Glory Dash by Shazooms Glory Dash, is owned and bred by Mary Lou Zoeller of Texas. Trained by J. W. Plunkett and ridden expertly by Noe Villatoro, the talented sorrel topped all qualifiers with a sharp break and steady drive to the wire, setting him up as a major contender for the final later this month.

He bounced off a victory in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby, June 14 in his last start at $275,200 Sam Houston Race Park. The winner of four of seven starts has banked $142,925.

Posting the second-fastest time was El Senador Tequila, who stopped the clock at 19.924 after finishing just behind Dr Pepper 123 in the same heat. The 2023 $27,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate races for owner Joe Ruiz, Jr.

The gelding is by multiple stakes sire Fly Thru The Fire out of Remember The Cartel by Corona Cartel. El Senador Tequila was bred in California by Steve D Burns DVM, is conditioned by trainer Santiago Riojas, Jr., and had Luis Angel Flores-Garcia up for the qualifying run.

Two-time winner El Senador Tequila won the Gillespie County Fair Futurity last season and has earned $86,925 in eight starts.

Rounding out the top three was multiple-graded stakes winner Dk Marney Jess, who turned in a time of 19.934, a 102 speed index, to secure her place in the final.

The filly, owned by CH Horse Racing, LLC, is by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Marney Jo by Corona Cartel. Bred by Cuadra La Presita of Mexico, she is trained by Patrick L. Clemons and was piloted by jockey Nestor Duran, who guided her to a smooth and game effort in her respective trial.

A winner of nine of 12 starts, including last year's Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity, Dk Marney Jess has earned over $570,000. She entered the trials off a third-place effort in the Heritage Place Oaks(G2) on May 31.

These three will join the other seven qualifiers will return to Remington Park on July 26 for the Retama Park Derby final, which will offer a $100,000-added purse for these promising sophomores to chase championship honors.

CLICK HERE for the complete list including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

Retama Park will continue live racing with a nine-race card on Thursday, headed by the $40,00 Selma Stakes. First post is 4:30 p.m. (CDT). The Selma will run as Race 9 with an approximate post of 8:06 p.m.

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