Lil Perry Wagon and jockey H. Hernandez score a one-length victory in the $47,200 Gary Baber Memorial Stakes at Retama Park on June 27.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JUNE 27, 2026–Lil Perry Wagon earned the first stakes victory of his career Saturday night, surging to a one-length win in the $47,200 Gary Baber Memorial Stakes at Retama Park.

Ridden by H. Hernandez, Lil Perry Wagon broke alertly and took command early before holding off a determined challenge from Top Cowboy to complete the 550-yard test in :27.685, earning a 99 speed index.

Owned by Ubaldo Fuentes Jr. and trained by Brittany Tellez, the bay gelding was bred in Oklahoma by Randy and Stacy Hill. A $15,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, he is sired by Lil Kool Wagon and out of the Mr Jess Perry mare KT Perry. His pedigree includes stakes-winning half-siblings B The One ($81,193) and Lets Get After It ($79,615).

The victory was worth $28,320 and increased his earnings to $165,094 from a record of 25 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds. Prior to Saturday's breakthrough, Lil Perry Wagon had finished second in last year's Gary Baber Memorial and was third in the 2023 Sam Houston Derby (G3).

Winning conncetions of Lil Perry Wagon.
© Jack Coady Photography

"Thank God we got the win," said Tellez. "I missed having my husband here—he's the one who usually rides the horse—but Mr. Javier gave the horse a really good ride."

Hernandez was making his first start aboard the gelding.

"They trusted me to ride the horse for the first time and it went well," Hernandez said. "He was very relaxed at the starting gates, then he burst forward, and we took it from there."

Top Cowboy finished a game second under Luis Vivanco. The five-year-old gelding races for owners Rodrigo Gonzalez and Leviram Racing LLC and trainer Marc Jungers.

A $62,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale and later a $47,000 repurchase at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale, Top Cowboy is by champion Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Paradice City, a half-sister to champion Kiss My Hocks ($1,199,385).

Still seeking his first stakes victory, Top Cowboy improved his record to 20-3-4-4 and boosted his earnings to $89,388. He entered the race off a fourth-place finish in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes (G3). His previous black-type efforts include runner-up finishes in the BF Phillips Jr. Stakes (G2) and the Gary Baber Memorial, along with thirds in the Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes and Rainbow Derby Invitational Stakes.

Onthrocks finished third under Nestor Duran for owner Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio. Bred by Ware Racing & Ranching LLC, the son of A Revenant and the Stoli mare Stol A Bunny increased his earnings to $263,876 while compiling a record of 34-8-6-8.

The accomplished stakes winner entered the race off a third-place finish in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes (G3) and owns victories in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes (twice), TQHA 550 Stakes (G3), and Tower of the Americas Stakes.

Nine One Won finished fourth and was followed by Determined, Big Lew Love, DM Special Cat, Sweet Storm, Rude Gurl and Run Like Da Devil.

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

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