Luis Vivanco guides Top Cowboy to his first career stakes victory in the Grade 3 TQHA 550 Stakes on Friday at Retama Park.

© Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX—JULY 24, 2026—Luis Vivanco and trainer Marc Jungers each recorded their second stakes victory of the night as Top Cowboy powered home to capture the Grade 3 $58,375  TQHA 550 Stakes Friday at Retama Park.

Breaking alertly, Top Cowboy settled just off the early leaders before producing a strong driving finish to win by one length. The 5-year-old gelding covered 550 yards in :27.751 while earning a 97 speed index over a fast track.

Owned by Rodrigo Gonzalez and Leviram Racing LLC, Top Cowboy was bred by Tyler and Naia Graham. The $62,000 repurchase from the TQHA Yearling Sale and $47,000 repurchase from the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale is sired 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).

Winning connections of Top Cowboy. © Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

Coming off a runner-up finish in the Gary Baber Memorial Stakes, he improved his record to 21-4-4-4. The $35,025 winner's share of the purse boosted his career earnings to $124,413 while giving him his first career stakes victory. Last month, he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Sam Houston 550 Stakes.

No Faux crossed the wire third but was elevated to second following the disqualification of Onthrocks. Ridden by Randy Edison Jr., the 4-year-old filly dueled for the lead before tiring late, stopping the clock in :28.112 with a 91 speed index.

She races for owners Shane and Brooke Snow and trainer Janessa Muniz. Bred by Bennie and Terri Jeter, the $22,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate is sired by champion Thoroughbred Mitole and out of champion Volcom Bay, a daughter of Volcom.

Coming off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes, she now owns a record of 19-2-5-2 with earnings of $47,672. Her only previous stakes appearance came as a finalist in last year's Grade 3 Will Rogers Downs Distance Challenge Stakes.

Whata Lota Boy finished fourth on the track but was moved up to third after the disqualification. Under Alejandro Medina, the 4-year-old gelding overcame significant bumping from both sides leaving the gate before rallying to finish in :28.200 with an 89 speed index.

Owned and bred by Whiting Ranch and trained by Delbert McDowell, he is sired by Lota PYC and out of the Apollitical Jess mare Eurapollitical Girl. He now has a record of 14-1-4-5 with earnings of $92,539.

Coming off a finalist effort in the Grade 3 Sam Houston 550 Stakes, he is still seeking his first stakes victory after runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 AQHA Derby Challenge Championship Stakes and Horseshoe Indianapolis Derby Challenge Stakes, along with a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Lovington Stakes.

Onthrocks finished second but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference at the start. Built For Power finished fifth and was followed by Imma Sweet Diva, Liberater, and Too Broke To Quit. Thrill And Fury was scratched.

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