Hollywoode is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the $60,000 restricted Grade 2 TQHA Classic Stakes, a 400-yard showdown for accredited Texas-bred Quarter Horses aged three and up.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 21, 2025–Friday night’s 10th race at Retama Park will feature the $60,000 restricted Grade 2 TQHA Classic Stakes, a 400-yard showdown for accredited Texas-bred Quarter Horses aged three and up.

Scheduled for July 25 with a 10:18 p.m. (CDT) approximate post time, the race caps a stakes-filled Texas Summer Showdown Series of races at Retama, where first post is 6:15 p.m..

A field of talented sprinters will line up in the Classic, led by the red-hot Hollywoode (5-2), who comes in off a determined victory in the $55,000 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes on June 14 at Sam Houston.

The 4-year-old gray gelding by multiple stakes sire Hawkeye out of Thriving Ivory by Ivory James was bred by Bobby D. Cox and purchased for $33,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

Owned by Leobersi Perez and trained by Fernando Lopez, Hollywoode surged to win that race by a neck over fellow Classic entrants Hes A Jet One and Top Cowboy, earning a 101 speed index.

With Yaidel Rodriguez back aboard, Hollywoode has compiled an impressive record of 4 wins and 3 seconds from 9 starts, including qualifying for the Grade 3 $238,000 EVD Futurity at Evangeline Downs last fall. The distance specialist is 2-for-4 at 400 yards and appears to be peaking at the right time.

His main rival is Hes A Jet One (3-1), a seasoned 5-year-old son of champion Ec Jet One out of Shez Dead Serious by Swingin Jess, bred and owned by Pete A. Scarmardo.

Trained by John A. Stinebaugh and ridden by Ali Rivera, Hes A Jet One was just a head behind Hollywoode in the Willie Hickman and finished third in the $75,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) and $50,000 Eastex Stakes (G2) earlier this year.

With 8 wins and over $286,000 in earnings from 30 starts, he brings both class and consistency to the gate.

Also dangerous is Top Cowboy (5-1), a 4-year-old gelding by leading third-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Paradice City by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, bred by Tyler & Naia Graham and owned by Rodrigo Gonzalez and Leviram Racing LLC.

He ran third behind Hollywoode and Hes A Jet One in the Willie Hickman after dueling early and weakening late. Trained by Edith A. Mojica and ridden by Luis L. Vivanco, Top Cowboy has three wins, two seconds and four thirds from 14 starts, and he posted a strong runner-up finish in a 2024 Texas Classic Derby trial.

The TQHA Classic offers a lucrative purse and prestige, with 60% of the $60,000 pot going to the winner.

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